Standing for election as one of three Councillors for Blackwall & Cubitt Town ward

Today I will start delivering leaflets (see below *) and this coming week I will submit my nomination papers if I can find two voters willing to sign them :)

I will advertise in advance where I will be at set times in the ward if you want to have a chat but I also intend to door knock as well in the coming weeks. Apologies if I don’t get to you but it is a big ward and many of you live in apartment blocks which is why I spend so much time on social media.

Let me know if you have any questions

Why am I running?
· The quality of government also depends on the quality of opposition and both the current Aspire administration, and its Labour opposition could be stronger – I have a lot of relevant experience from 8 years as a Councillor from 2014 to 2022 and 3 years working for other Councils since 2023
· Because people still ask me for help and advice, but I could do a better job if I was a Councillor again and able to submit members enquiries on their behalf
· Because there are things that the Council and others can do to improve the local area and as a Councillor, I have a greater standing to do that, I will talk about those ideas in the coming weeks
· To make sure the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan that so many of you voted for is not ignored as it has been

How can you help?
· I need to deliver leaflets, and some blocks are hard to get into so any help getting in and delivering leaflets would be great
· But if you like the idea of me being your Councillor ask your neighbours/WhatsApp groups etc to support me
· If you have any spare time weekends or evenings let me know

Who else to vote for?
You will have 4 votes in total in Blackwall & Cubitt Town ward
· One vote for an Executive Mayor – currently Lutfur Rahman
· 3 Councillors (other wards have 2 or 1 Councillors) – currently all Aspire – you can vote for me and two other candidates who you think are likely to win and be good Councillors
· A reminder Executive Mayor and Councillors have two very different jobs – the Mayor has the power, and Councillors are there to scrutinise the Mayor, sit on Committees, and represent their residents

Why Blackwall & Cubitt Town ward?
· Because the three Aspire Councillors have done so little for the last four years – they are invisible on local issues
· Based on the 3 Councillor votes + the 2022 voteI think I have a good chance of winning
· We need more opposition Councillors given that Lutfur Rahman is likely to get re-elected as Mayor so I need to stand in a ward with Aspire Cllrs to try and defeat one of them
· When I was the Councillor for Canary Wharf ward 2014-2018 I used to do a lot of work in the ward, the advice surgery was at Cubitt Town library or the Ideas Store at Canary Wharf (if elected I will also hold a surgery in Blackwall/London City Island)
·Not standing again in Canary Wharf ward as Labour have two strong candidates and this election for me is about getting as many good opposition candidates elected as possible

Why not stand for Mayor?
Don’t have the time and £ to do it. Last time I got 4.7% of the vote and I think with more work and money I could get to maybe 6-8% but that is not enough to win but might take votes from somebody that can.

Which political party are you a member of?
None, I am standing as an independent. I used to be a Conservative from 2014 to 2020 then quit over Robert Jenricks unlawful Westferry Printworks decision. I feel politically homeless now but would describe myself as on the centre right on economic issues.
I am supporting with advice or promotion candidates from other political parties including Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Tower Hamlets Independents.

My relevant experience
· Eight years as a Councillor in Tower Hamlets for Canary Wharf ward
· Lived on the Isle of Dogs since 2009 on Westferry Road
· Started in 2014 and then helped deliver the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan that some of you voted for in 2021 (John Biggs removed Blackwall from the area because he did not like resident participation in planning)
· Started in 2014 the now biggest Facebook group in east London, ‘Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs E14 Residents’ group
· Since 2022 I continued to do a lot of work locally, I did part of the job of a Councilor but was not paid to do so (Cllrs get an allowance)
· Three years working in the finance departments of two other London Councils
· Former secondary school governor in west London
· Former Chair of the Royal London Hospital patient panel
· Qualified accountant (CIMA) with 25 years experience in a range of private and public organisations
· Born in Africa, educuted in Asia, have worked in other countries (including USA & Saudi Arabia)
· Postgraduate Diploma - War in the Modern World at Kings College London
· BSc 2.1 Hon Political Science Degree at Bristol University


PS * there is an error in the printed leaflet - when you get it see if you can spot it - its what happens when you work 10-11 hours a day and then try and write a leaflet :)