I am honoured to be selected as the Liberal Democrat councillor candidate for West Thamesmead in the coming by-election on 19th December 2024.

Full statement

I have lived in West Thamesmead for nearly a decade, where I represent 1,000 residents as Chair of the residents’ association at Royal Artillery Quays. As a long-term campaigner for building safety and leaseholder rights, I secured £1.3 million in funding from the developer of our buildings by proving the construction did not meet building regulations. I also founded the buildingsafetyscheme.org campaign and lead the policy team supporting the Earl of Lytton's proposed building safety legislation in the House of Lords.

Having campaigned for 4 years for 1000 residents at Royal Artillery Quays to have unlawfully installed, dangerous cladding removed, I’m appalled that the work is still without a start date. Labour have refused to support a motion proposed by former Liberal Democrat Councillor Lloyd to make our homes safe, sellable and insurable. This pushed me to stand as a Lib Dem councillor to challenge this in public.

Alongside ending the cladding crisis at Royal Artillery Quays, I would like campaign to get the removal of the wall at the end of Erebus Drive, address the pot holes on the roads and cycle paths. I also would like to take on the scourge of fly tipping around the ward, improve availability of public transport, tackle crime and press Labour to fund the DLR extension to Thamesmead, another promise Labour failed to deliver. I will go the extra mile and challenge the council to do better. I can also raise matters to parliamentarians nationally through my already established network. It’s time we hold power to account and make a difference locally to all of our lives, I intend to do that if you vote for me.

It would be the privilege of my life to serve the residents of West Thamesmead. From my experience of campaigning in the House of Lords, I believe politics can change people’s lives - but it needs a fighting spirit and detailed work to ensure meaningful change happens. This is what energises me as a person and is why I want to get into local politics. We need to hold the council to account, we need to come together as a ward and fight for a better future together. With your vote, I intend to be part of that fight.