I’m a charity campaigner with a great passion for my local community, and to be able to serve residents is an absolute privilege, a privilege that many of the major parties seem to have taken for granted.

Full statement

I have always supported local ventures and continue to actively help our residents with what really matters to them. It’s only when we are immersed in our community and interact with local businesses and people that we can truly listen and understand the real concerns within our community. The five main areas I pledge to focus on are: 1) Crime - in particular, the rising occurrences of burglaries and car thefts in our area. Antisocial behaviour is also a growing concern for many residents. We need to be able to feel safe in our environment, and that is why I will build on relationships with the police and will advocate for more police on the beat. 2) Youth and Elderly - we need to engage directly with the youngsters in our society and invest in spaces that provide opportunities for them to thrive and express themselves. A few years ago, I set up the TSF Youth Club, based in Kingswinford and bordering Wordsley, and have seen the positive impact it has had. One Community also recently held a successful talent show, bringing together 150 entries from schools across Kingswinford, culminating in 67 brilliant students showcasing their talents in the final. Equally important are our elderly residents, and I will seek to support our care homes with inclusive interactions and to help raise funds for needed equipment. 3) Local Business – as a business owner myself, I can completely relate to the stress and pressure of running a small business, it’s never confined to a set amount of business hours and it is often a 24hr occupation. I will always champion our local businesses. Another area of concern in the loss of local Post Offices, most recently in Kingswinford, which I will work on to get returned. 4) BESS – Battery Energy Storage System. The planned construction of a Battery Energy Storage System is a great concern among residents of Wall Heath, Kingswinford, Swindon, and Hinksford. I have attended meetings organised by the Wall Heath & Kingswinford Green Belt and Residents of Swindon and Hinksford Working Together Group. These groups have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the impact this will have on our area. I will continue to listen to our residents and to be a support, as well as a voice, for their concerns. 5) Visibility – I pledge to be visible and approachable within our communities all year round! I, too often hear people say “We don’t know who our councillor or MP are?” or “We never see our councillor or MP! We only see them during election time!” This is not how I operate, and I enjoy being present in our community to listen and support our residents. In addition, the current standard response time for an MP to respond to your messages is 30 days. This is too long! I will ensure that I respond to your queries promptly. To bring about real change, we need to put community over politics and listen to the voices within our own constituency. If elected to serve as your Member of Parliament, I will do my utmost to uphold your interests and views in Parliament and to help strengthen our community within Kingswinford and South Staffordshire. This is why, on the 4th July 2024, Vote Independent, #VoteShazSaleem #OneCommunity #JoinUs