Record number of BME candidates in the GLA Elections

Next Thursday’s London elections are not just about the big battle for the Mayor. 25 Greater London Assembly seats are up for grabs.

And this time round there is a record number of BME candidates standing for Assembly seats. Not all will win but if 25% get elected the Assembly will begin to look like the people it seeks to serve. Last time round the Assembly had four BME members: Jeanette Arnold, James Cleverly, Murad Qureshi and Navin Shah. These four look a good bet to be returned to power but we could also see another four get elected either directly or on the list top up system.

OBV’s Simon Woolley stated:

London’s strength lies in its diversity. This must be seen and operate in all areas of London life, not least the Greater London Assembly. I hope all voters with support many of these talented candidates as well as others too. In doing so the Assembly becomes a beacon of inclusive and representative democracy.

Here is the list of all 31 London Assembly BME candidates

GLA Constituency Candidates

Bexley and Bromley

James Cleverley - Conservative Party

Josie Channer – Labour Party

Brent and Harrow

Shahrar Ali – Green Party

Sachin Rajput – Conservative Party

Navin Shah – Labour Party

City and East

Kamran Malik - Communities United Party

Havering and Redbridge

Farrukh Islam – Liberal Democrat Party

Mandy Richards – Labour Party

Haroon Saad – Green Party

Ealing and Hillingdon

Onkar Singh Sahota – Labour Party

North East

Jennette Arnold – Labour Party

Farooq Qureshi – Liberal Democrat Party

South West

Munira Wilson – Liberal Democrat Party

West Central

Layla Moran – Liberal Democrat Party

Croydon and Sutton

Louisa Woodley – Labour Party

Barnet and Camden

Chris Richards – Liberal Democrat Party

London Wide

Liberal Democrat

Shas Sheehan

Merlene Emerson

Marisha Ray

Ajmal Masroor

Chris Richards

Conservative

Kemi Adegoke

Nadia Jabine Sharif

Amandeep Singh Bhogal

Karim Momade Aly Sacoor

Labour Party

Murad Qureshi

Florence Nosegbe

Unmesh Desai

Liaquat Ali

Green Party

Shahrar Ali

Farid Bakht

By Jyoti Bhojani