Introducing Nathan Williams your Green candidate for Kilburn ward

 

I’ve lived in Kilburn for almost 20 years. It’s a fantastic place but so often it can feel unloved and neglected. The High Road should be one of the jewels in Brent’s crown – yet it’s dirty, poorly maintained and polluted. Repeated promises from the council to rejuvenate Kilburn come to nothing whilst ever larger development are forced on communities without proper consultation. 

 

As a virtual one-party state it’s all too easy for Brent to ignore the views of ordinary people. We need voices that will stand up to the council, not toe the party line. As your councillor I would fight for Kilburn. I helped to save the much loved Hopscotch Nursery when Brent Council wanted to close it down. I care not only about the local environment but the environment more generally. 

 

A vote for the Green Party sends a strong message – that you want a cleaner, healthier, less polluted city. It also tells Brent Council that they can’t take your vote for granted. Give me just one of your votes and I’ll make sure the people of Kilburn have a real voice.

Introducing John Kohut your Green candidate for Cricklewood and Mapesbury ward

 

The people of Brent need a credible opposition to break Labour’s monopoly on council power and to hold our council to account. As a journalist for three decades at some of the world’s most trusted news organisations including Reuters, Bloomberg, WSJ, Sunday Times, and others, I have spent all my adult life challenging authority by asking questions, insisting on answers, and forming conclusions based on evidence. Not empty assertions, like the ones Brent councillors make, but carefully considered analyses based on research. My skills can serve Brent residents by pressing for clarity and transparency.

 

The Labour Party manifesto claims that our council spends our money wisely. But I do not believe residents agree. Witness, for example, the failed Low Traffic Neighbourhood fiasco, the full cost of which the council has not revealed. 

 

How can anyone know what is in the budget given the sloppy, impenetrable, incomplete way in which the council has written it? In its latest budget, the council says 48% respondents said, “that they had ‘nothing at all’ or ‘not very much’ understanding of the Council’s overall financial position and the need to both increase council tax and deliver savings.” I can press for clear, timely, plain-language communications from the council. Better yet, I can offer to help the council draw up budgets and other documents based on my experience as a financial journalist, a business executive, a consultant, a writer, and an online instructor of business writing.

 

I know the Labour Party from being a member of it until last year when I withdrew because of the impossibility of getting Labour councillors to discuss issues meaningfully. This includes the Equality Act of 2010, legislation passed by the last Labour government to prevent discrimination against the disabled. The councillors I have spoken with do not understand what the act means to those of us who are disabled. I have faced discrimination based on my disabilities and the Labour Party councillors just do not care. What they care about—to quote a Labour Party “activist” for disability issues--is getting elected. 

 

Naturally, we cannot expect everyone to know about everything that matters to us. But my councillors did not want to discuss my concerns or learn about the act. The outgoing mayor did not turn up for a phone call appointment she agreed to 18 months after promising to address my concerns. She sent my email to the council executive, a band of eight people who control the council. I have not heard back. As of writing, that was ten months ago. I am not upset because they did not agree with my views. I am shocked that they refused to discuss issues the Labour Party purports to care about.. In their budget, councillors talk about the Equality Act being at the centre of council policies. But lack of action suggests otherwise

Introducing David Stevens your Green candidiate for Welsh Harp ward

 

 

I am standing for the Greens on the basis that they are the only party that can be trusted on the environment, the other parties will say they support the environment, but then do exactly the opposite. In Labour’s case they have approved planning applications which have seen the destruction of green spaces right next to one of the mostly highly polluted roads in London, green spaces which absorb the noxious vehicle emissions. This has been done this with little or no consultation, with my fellow residents. 

 

Of all the boroughs Brent has one of the lowest for cycling provisions. I have lived in Brent all my life, I know its people and places, I’ve travelled all across the globe, but its the one place I call home, but I’m seeing my “home” being eroded and mismanaged, mainly for the benefit of the developers, with no thought given to local services like hospitals, schools and transport provisions. Previously I have been content to merely, when required, put my cross in a box and think I was doing my bit. However, it has become apparent that this isn’t enough, especially in a borough, where your vote is taken for granted and where there’s virtually no opposition and no democracy. I have therefore decided to stand to draw attention to above issues.

 

Time is running out for the environment and we must rise above party politics and show the politicians that this is an important issue to us all and then and only then will they start taking notice. The Greens are well established in Europe, forming governments and forcing through real change to slow down climate change and preserve the environment, but we need more, so please when you put your cross in the box against my name, you are doing so because you really care about your local green spaces, you want your voice to be heard and you really want to  starting making a difference.

 

Introducing Marion Dunmore your Green candidate for Roundwood ward

 

Everything is connected.  Each of us bears responsibility for our actions.  While we face global challenges, what we do in Brent counts. I believe councillors are here to hold those in power to account and to apply our budget to a greener, socially just future for the whole community … by scrutinising spending and improving communication from the Council to improve awareness of the budget so citizens appreciate the role they play. The Council working for us – we all work together.

 

I am happily British by marriage. Growing up in an American family who campaigned for racial justice shaped my political views and belief in engagement for a better future. Living in Willesden for 20 years, I have been a school governor in Brent Schools, librarian in Brent libraries, and volunteered in local theatre.  I am retired from a career in libraries and teaching, including eight years at Preston Manor School in Wembley. I am a passionate gardener, allotment holder, and volunteer in Roundwood Park. 

 

I believe Brent needs rapid change to provide opportunities for our young people and to meet the challenges of climate, food, energy, and housing security. To meet these challenges, we must act quickly. 

Introducing William Relton your Green candidate for Willesden Green

 

 

I am very happy to be standing for the Green Party again. I stood in the Council Elections for Willesden Green Ward in 2018, and also for Brent Central in the General Election in 2019. I am a passionate supporter of the party, in particular on environmental  issues and electoral reform.

 

I have been living in Willesden Green since the mid 80’s, and many members of my family have lived or are living in the ward going back to the 30’s. I have seen many changes happen, not all of which have been good, and am convinced we need more alternative voices on the Council rather than just having a wall of Labour Councillors who don’t seem to really engage with the residents of Brent, but rather more with the developers of high rise, high cost flats.

 

During the pandemic I delivered over 100 prescriptions and bags of shopping through Mutual Aid, I also ushered at Vaccination Centres and administered over 800 vaccines between April and August of last year.