Labour has a large majority in Jubilee ward – but candidates from five other parties are hoping to overturn it in an upcoming by-election.
Here is a rundown of the candidates hoping to win your vote on Thursday, May 6.
Chinelo Anyanwu – Labour Party
Chinelo grew up and went to school in Edmonton. She is the mother of two young children and runs a small business with her husband. Chinelo says she is dedicated to building a safer environment for Enfield’s residents by working alongside the police to tackle knife and youth crime. She has experience working with community groups to develop successful mentoring schemes and wants to give back to the community she says has given her so much.
Council leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan said: “Having grown up in Edmonton, Chinelo is truly committed to the local community and will be a great councillor for Jubilee ward.”
Bill Linton – Green Party
Now retired after a successful career as a freelance analyst/programmer, Bill has lived in Enfield for more than 40 years.
“The Green Party is known for environmentalism, and of course that is a big part of what we are about, but we will never achieve a stable and safe environment without a stable and safe society,” he said.
“At present, everything is arranged for the benefit of the rich and powerful, leading to widening inequality, erosion of human rights and democracy, and a headlong rush to several forms of environmental disaster that threaten the very existence of the human race.
“We cannot stand idly by without attempting to change this suicidal course.”
Clive Morrison – Taking The Initiative Party
Clive Morrison, a foster carer, served as Labour councillor for Jubilee ward from 1998 to 2002.
He is standing for the Taking The Initiative Party, which says it was set up by a group of politically homeless businesspeople. Its key areas of concern are the benefits system, education, housing, knife crime, managed discrimination and taxation.
“My main focus will be to combat gun and knife crime. This scourge of knife crime did not happen on my watch,” he said.
“Our mainstream political parties are far removed from our realities. They fail to do the basics of having representation that reflects the community it serves.
“Diverse representation is the key to all our ills that the mainstream parties fail to recognise.”
Benny Neza – Conservative Party
Arben Neza is 45 years old and lives in Edmonton with his partner, where they are bringing up their young family. He has run his own successful construction company in Edmonton for more than 16 years. Arben attended London Metropolitan University, obtaining a degree in international relations and British politics.
Active in his local community, Arben says he is driven by a desire to help and support others and to build and safeguard a better future for all.
Lewis Peacock – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Lewis is a trade union representative for the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on London Underground.
“The Tories are pushing through cutbacks to our public transport networks, and Labour are doing nothing to stop them,” he said.
“We need fully-funded public services, and that means fighting back the Government for the resources our communities need.
“I have lived in Enfield all my life and have seen the devastation austerity has done to our community.
“The money is there but Labour are unwilling to fight for it. If I am elected, I will fight for the funds we need.”
Dr Iman Saadoune – Liberal Democrat
Iman has lived in Jubilee ward for 22 years. She says she is standing for the Liberal Democrats because she is “tired of this council and the way it is run”.
The Lib Dem candidate criticised the council’s support for a new Edmonton Incinerator, which she said would “produce pollution and greenhouse gases”.
And she claimed homes at the Meridian Water regeneration project were being built in a way that is “attractive to buy-to-let investors”.
“We need to build truly affordable housing, clean up our air and display financial responsibility for our residents,” Iman said. “If you believe it is time for change, then vote for me.”
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