Who will take Steve Pound's former seat?
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The Local Democracy Service has contacted each candidate for Ealing North and asked to outline their three priorities.
Here’s what they had to say.
Jeremy Parker – Greens
Unsurprisingly, Mr Parker said his top priority was dealing with the climate and the ecological emergency.
He said: “The government’s current target to reduce emissions to zero by 2050 is not adequate.
“Also, I am not aware of any targets as regards reducing biodiversity loss, which is a critical path.
“We have arguably entered the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history.”
Reforming democracy comes in second on Mr Parker’s priority list, and the introduction of a fairer voting system through Proportional Representation.
“Thanks to the work of Extinction Rebellion we see new ways of giving power to the people through Citizens’ and Peoples’ Assemblies.
“It is my hope that the Green Party will support XR’s 3 Demands Bill which will pave the way for Citizens’ Assemblies with real power.”
Mr Parker said his third priority was standing up for his constituents.
He said: “Ealing can currently be described as a “one party” state run by Labour.
“This domination by one party has led to a lack of accountability. In my constituency the Gurnell development is very controversial because it is a big development that is being built on a nature reserve, and we see that pattern across Ealing: no accountability, and people’s concerns being ignored.
“I would seek to correct this.”
James Murray – Labour
Mr Murray hopes to replace retiring incumbent MP Steve Pound.
He has experience in politics, becoming the Deputy Mayor for Housing in 2016 and overseeing the Mayor’s £4.8 billion affordable homes programme.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “At the heart of what drives me is ending the housing crisis. As Deputy Mayor for Housing under Sadiq Khan, I oversaw the biggest council homebuilding programme in over 30 years.
“But in Ealing and across London we’ll never build enough of the homes we need until we have a Government who throws their weight into doing so too.
“As MP for Ealing North, I will fight for a new generation of high-quality council homes and to make private renting more affordable and secure.”
He said it was also essential that people on lower incomes are better paid and more secure. “It’s wrong that so many people who are working are forced to rely on benefits to get by, and that practices like zero-hour contracts have become so widespread. “I’ll fight for a true Living Wage, for a strengthening of workplace rights across the board, and for investment in decent jobs – particularly in the new green economy that is so crucial to averting a climate disaster too.” His final priority is the NHS, which he described as “our greatest public service and one of our greatest achievements as a country”. “In recent years it has been under constant attack – local people in Ealing have been constantly forced to defend hospital services from the threat of closure. “I’ll join local campaigners in protecting our services, I’ll fight to defend the NHS from privatisation, and I’ll push for the investment in health and social care we need for the future.”Mr Murray grew up in the area, and during his video he says he will fight to get a government with socialist values into power.
Anthony Pickles – Conservatives
Anthony’s three priorities are to make the streets safer, having North Ealing’s voice heard, and supporting the economy in the area.
He said: “Crime has risen by 10% in the last year, and we want more police officers and more resources for them.
“We want cleaner streets, and communities voices heard in planning decisions that affect residents.”
Henrietta Bewley – Lib Dem
Ged Cann, Local Democracy Reporter
November 19th 2019
