Home

Nominated by:

Hello and welcome to my website. On 2nd Nov 2013 I was selected in a standing-room-only meeting by local party members as the Labour Party candiate to contest the Ealing Central and Acton Parliamentary seat in the 2015 General Election.

Ealing has been my home for over 40 years. I am standing in this contest because I feel passionately about the communities of Acton, Ealing and Bedford Park and feel that they deserve better than the disastrous coalition government and Angie Bray. I grew up in the constituency and attended local schools, as does my offspring. My mum worked for BT in the Uxbridge Road W13 and my dad at the Prudential in Holborn, three generations of us are now in Ealing.

I was fortunate enough to attend Cambridge University where I first joined Labour in 1991 and campaigned in the general election the following year. Although the Conservatives won overall, we came from third place to gain the Cambridge constituency, giving me my first taste of winning for Labour. My work as college coordinator and the promises I netted delivered Ann Campbell’s majority, instilled in me the value of get out the vote – something I have continued in my regular doorstep canvassing in Ealing Central and Acton and Labour candidacies for Europe (2004), Westminster (2005) and Ealing Council (2010).

In an age of mistrust of machine politics and politicians I can resonate with voters and am already known locally through serving as Deputy Mayoress of Ealing 2010-11. I’m a public sector working mum. My first Saturday job in the late 80s was at WHSmiths in Ealing Broadway followed by Ealing Central Library. I have also worked for Ealing Council and at the University of West London, formerly TVU . My full time career as a senior lecturer for the past decade means I’m a public speaker by trade, used to the rough and tumble of debate, experienced in managing research contracts and funding from government departments, the Metropolitan Police and EU aimed at delivering outcomes for real people. As a trade union representative at my workplace I am used to undertaking advocacy and casework.

You can access more about me through the tabs displayed including some of my extensive media appearances via YouTube. I also write for the Observer, Guardian and Tribune. I am also author of three books and have advised Labour in their present policy review on subjects including Englishness, race and community relations.

My longstanding blog on politics and popular culture can be found here.