I am standing as a Green Party candidate to be one of your councillors in South Acton.

Full statement

While I have always had an interest in politics, I have never stood before for public office largely because I prioritised other areas of my life. I previously worked in a university and in publishing in the UK and abroad. Since 2014 I have run my own small business providing educational services in English Language Teaching. During this time, I spent several years supporting the care of parents with disabilities and dementia. I also relocated to Ealing which involved a period renting and 18 months ago, I settled in Northfields, where I live with my wife, a therapist working in schools.

All these direct experiences as teacher, businessperson, carer, renter, and ‘migrant’ as well as the experiences of my family have made me increasingly frustrated with the current focus of politics. It’s become about division and how people should serve the economy and growth, rather than the economy serving the fundamentals we all need: a secure home, good health and a thriving environment. I joined the Green Party because it is the only party whose policies start from this perspective.

As a councillor, I will remain focused on these values. For example, I’d like to:

help renters challenge poor practices and get the best deal we can get in new developments, so renters can make a home in Ealing fight for more support for home insulations and renewable energy encourage council use of local businesses and build community wealth support grassroots groups working to develop physical and mental health for all ages work together to improve public spaces and having more people out in the spaces to increase community and security Professionally, I am a writer, teacher and trainer, so I am a good listener and communicator. I am an independent voice, uninterested in petty party politics. I will always work with others who want better homes, health and environment in South Acton. As I now work part-time, I also have the time and energy to fully commit to working as your councillor.