Six candidates will compete for the London Assembly election in Lambeth and Southwark on May 2.
Here’s a brief introduction to those running and the issues that matter to their parties.
Adam John Lewis Buick – The Socialist Party of Great Britain
Buick is The Socialist Party of Great Britain’s election candidate for the London Assembly in Lambeth and Southwark.
He has been a member of the party since 1962 and was their General Secretary from 1993 to 1995.
He ran for GLA previously in 2016 in the South West constituency.
The party is hoping to send a message to London that the people want a world of common ownership and democratic control.
Chris French – Liberal Democrats
Vauxhall resident French is a former police special constable and has worked in the health sector for almost a decade.
He was shortlisted as a Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate and reforming the met police is one of his top priorities.
He founded the LGBTQ+ charity Lambeth Links and came second to Labour in the Waterloo and South Bank ward in May 2022’s local elections.
The Liberal Democrats London manifesto made police reform its number one priority.
The party also wants to make more stations step free and build more affordable homes.
Christine Ann Wallace – Conservative and Unionist Party
Wallace is the Conservative London Assembly Candidate for Lambeth and Southwark.
She currently works as an advisory director of a wine company and chief of staff for South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous.
She also volunteers as a mentor for the local youth charity Step Out.
The Conservative party’s manifesto outlines policies such as a scrapping of the ULEZ expansion, removal of LTN’s and extending the night tube to four more lines.
They also plan to reinstate Freedom passes and 60+ Oyster Cards at peak morning hours.
Claire Frances Sheppard – Green Party
Peckham-based Sheppard is the Green Party Candidate for London Assembly.
She is the co-founder of the Nunhead Knocks community mutual aid group that provided practical aid during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Green Party manifesto outlines policies such as developing the current climate budget and a single low-fare for all London public transport and bringing in free bus travel for under 22s and asylum seekers.
The party also wants to extend free school meals for secondary school children.
Marina Masuma Ahmad – Labour and Co-operative Party
A south London resident for two decades, Ahmad has been the London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark since 2021.
Ahmad has lobbied for free school meals and has launched a report into childhood hunger.
She has been the Chair of the Assembly’s Economy Committee since 2023.
Ahmed previously represented the Crystal Palace ward on Bromley Council from 2018 to 2021.
According to its manifesto, Labour’s key policies for London are making universal free school meals permanent, building 40,000 new council homes in this decade and ending rough sleeping by 2030.
Tony Sharp – Reform UK
Sharp is the Reform UK London Assembly election 2024 candidate and the Reform UK general election candidate for Bermondsey and Old Southwark.
According to Reform UK’s manifesto their priorities for London are scrapping ULEZ and LTN’s and increasing policing visibility 24/7 and housing prospects for young and low-income families.
The party also stated its desire to: “Ensure democratic responses of the majority are adhered to and never ever again ignored.”
Its manifesto also states a desire to: “Incentivise drivers and internal combustion engine users to adopt clean fuel technology without using cash grabbing policies.”
For more coverage of the Mayoral and Assembly elections make sure to follow South West Londoner.
Featured Photo – by Arnaud Jaegers on Unsplash
