With London elections next week local candidates have their say

Candidates standing in the forthcoming GLA elections were given the chance to outline their policies,views and opinions at a local hustings in Hanwell this week.

Organised by Hanwell Community Association and Old Hanwell Residents Association, residents filled St Josephs Primary School Hall on Tuesday (26th April) but there was disappointment and anger over the none appearance of Dr Onkar Sahota.

Parents of children from nearby St Mark's Primary School wanted to grill the Labour candidate over his stalled land deal with the council.

He was represented by Labour assembly candidate, Fiona Twycross, who apologised on behalf of Dr Sahota and said he had been campaigning with the striking junior doctors and also had his own surgeries to attend. Shouts of 'he's frightened' were heard from the floor.

Zack Polanski stood in for Francessco Fruzza (Lib Dem). Other candidates who attended were Dominic Gilham (Cons) Meena Hans (Green) and Alex Nieora (UKIP)

On London wide issues the candidates all appeared to largely agree on the need for affordable housing and better deals and conditions for those in private rented accommodation. Alex Nieora -in line with his party - said UKIP would put Londoners first and blamed immigration as ' the root cause of many of our problems'.

The panel was asked by a disillusioned audience member whether party politics or issues of local constituents should come first. All agreed that elected representatives had a duty to their electorate.

Dominic Gilham ( Cons) said they should always act openly and honestly, Meena Hans (Green) said politicians must be fully accountable, Zack Polanski ( Lib Dem) said politicians don't always reflect the population and should be more diverse, Alex Nieora (UKIP) claimed the Labour council was run like a Cabal and it was difficult to feel represented, Fiona Twycross (Lab) said not all politicians were the same and argued that the key thing was to make sure your voice was heard and urged the audience member to make sure she had her say and voted.

On Warren Farm, Meena Hans said they were passionate about preserving open spaces and wouldn't allow QPR to have it. Dominic Gilham said it was a community asset however he would allow QPR to use it - but they should have to pay, Alex Nieora said it was disgraceful that it had been 'gifted' to the football club and claimed it showed ' corruption' within the council. Fiona Twycross argued that the London Mayor had approved the council's actions and that nobody should expect that the Tories would change the situation.

In the 2016 Mayor of London and London Assembly elections, Londoners will have three votes. One is for the Mayor of London and two are for the London Assembly - 14 Constituency London Assembly Members and 11 London-wide Assembly Members.

The election takes place on May 5th.

Standing as Ealing and Hillingdon GLA representative:

• FRUZZA, Francesco Rossano Alberto - London Liberal Democrats
• GILHAM, Dominic - The Conservative Party Candidate
• HANS, Meena - The Green Party
• NIEORA, Alex - UK Independence Party (UKIP)
• SAHOTA, Onkar Singh - Labour Party

27th April 2016