Wide range of candidates stand for election to Brent Council - Polling Day May 7th. See who is standing in your ward.

As well as the usual Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates both the Green Party and Reform are standing a full list of candidates in every Brent ward for the May7th local election.

In addition there are Independent candidates in Barnhill, Kenton, Preston, Stonebridge and Wembley Hill wards.

There is also a Workers Party candidate in Stonebridge ward whilst former members of the party are standing as Independents.

  

FULL CANDIDATE LIST BY WARD

 

 

Published and promoted by James Paton on behalf of Brent Green Party and its candidates c/o 23 Saltcroft Close, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 9JJ.

Cllr Kathleen Fraser stands as an Independent in Barnhill ward

 Cllr Kathleen Fraser

Cllr Kathleen Fraser, a long time member of the Labour Party until her recent resignation (See LINK) will be fighting Labour as an Independent in her home watd of Barnhill. 

Cllr Sunita Hirani resigns from the Tories to stand as an independent in Kenton ward

 

Cllr Sunita Hirani (Independent - Kenton)

Cllr Sunita Hirani, yesterday lodged her papers with Brent Electoral Services as an Independent candidate in Kenton ward, after she was suspended from the Conservative Party.

 

She explained her decision to Kenton residents on Facebook:

    

Dear Kenton Residents,

 

I am writing to you directly and personally to share an important update about my political position.

 

My membership of the Conservative Party was recently suspended, shortly before the close of nominations on 9 April 2026. Despite my repeated requests for clarification, no clear reason has been communicated to me. Given the timing, this has been deeply upsetting and distressing, particularly in light of my continued hard work and commitment to serving our community.

 

After careful reflection, discussions with supporters, and most importantly putting you, my residents, first, I have decided to resign my membership of the Conservative Party and continue my work as an Independent Councillor.

 

This decision has not been taken lightly. I stood for election in 2022 to serve Kenton with integrity, honesty, and determination, and that commitment remains unchanged.

 

My priority has always been, and will continue to be, to represent the residents of Kenton Ward.

 

As an Independent Councillor, I will be free to:

 

Speak up without fear, favour, or intimidation on the issues that matter to Kenton

Work constructively with councillors of all parties

Put residents’ concerns first, every single time

 

I remain fully committed to helping residents with local issues, whether that is housing, safety, schools, fly-tipping, parking, or navigating the council .

 

My door remains open, and I am here for you.

 

Thank you for the trust, kindness, and support so many of you have shown me

 

It means more than I can adequately put into words.

 

I hope to continue earning that trust as your Independent voice on Brent Council.

 

With sincere thanks,

 

Sunita Hirani

Are you a food growing organisation in Brent? This gathering at Roundwood Park on Sunday April 19th is for you

 

 

Guest Post 

Brent Food Growers Network - First Gathering 19th April

Does your organisation grow food in Brent? Help us envision an exciting new connected growers’ network by joining us in Roundwood Park and sharing your views!

A group of us thinking about supporting food growing as part of the new Food Strategy for Brent thought it would be helpful to gather together with other Brent food growing organisations to discuss the possible formation of a Brent Food Growers Network (and anything else that might be helpful to you in your work).

Please join us, help us understand what you do, and contribute to this new conversation!  

This event is for Brent food-growing organisations. We hope to hold events for the wider community at a later date.

If you would like to attend and represent your organisation (or school) please register on Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brent-food-growers-network-first-gathering-tickets-1985990229237

'500 Champions' needed to save the Brent Food Bank that saves lives!

 

 

 

It shouldn't be the case in one of the largest economies in tke world that we need food banks to keep people from starving, but unfortunately that IS the case. Activism can address the causes of poverty but that is a long term effort and right now Brent Food Bank faces an immediate crisis as they have lost one of their biggest donors.

As well as donating food as  above, there is now need for cash donations to save the Food Bank, situated in Church End from closure. 

 

The Food Bank is seeking 500 'Champions' to help save it:       

Our new "500 Champions" to save the food bank are being posted around Brent. This is at our partner the Ace Cafe London Ltd. If you can help us please make a donation on our Just Giving site:

 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/brentfoodbank6072

We are very grateful to the the very kind people who have made a donation in the last few days. What ever size of donation you can afford, it is very gratefully received, Thank You

 

Major parties to attend Brent local elections Climate and Nature Hustings 14th April 7-9pm

 

From Brent ACE

Representatives of most major parties will be attending a Climate and Nature Hustings organised by ACE Brent, the new coalition of environment and residents groups who campaign for a stronger council response to the climate emergency.So far the Labour Party, Green Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat Party have all agreed to speak and answer residents' questions about their climate and nature plans for Brent after the elections.

The hustings will be at Barham Community Library, 660 Harrow Road, HA0 2HB on Tuesday 14th April, 7-9pm.

It will be chaired by barrister, broadcaster and local author Hashi Mohamed. It will also be online.

ACE Brent, Action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency, Brent, is a coalition of 15 environment, climate and residents groups. This includes Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Cycling Campaign, Brent XR and Brent Parks Forum (see below for full list).

Elaine Sheppard, representing ACE Brent, says: 

There is a five year window to halve emissions and prevent climate disaster. Brent council is taking climate action and has taken some steps to increase dialogue on the climate emergency. But Brent needs to do more, speak up more, and work with all of us to respond to changes already happening. Brent is benchmarked at 25 out of 33 London councils for actions taken towards net zero according to Climate Emergency UK, and 21 for Healthy Streets, according to London Boroughs Healthy Streets Scorecard. It is time to hear how parties plan to increase these scores.

All residents are encouraged to attend the hustings - to ask questions and hear about the plans of the different parties. Attendance is open to all. Please register because places are limited.

 

To register to attend in person, use the link bit.ly/hustper.

To register to attend online, use the link bit.ly/hustonl.

 

https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/

https://www.healthystreetsscorecard.london/ 

 

 

ACE Brent members :

 Brent Cycling Campaign | Brent Friends of the Earth | Brent Parks Forum | Brent Pure Energy | Brent XR | Divest Brent | Cycletastic | Brent Healthy Streets | Friends of the Welsh Harp | One Kilburn Transport Committee | Life in Kilburn | Brent Eleven Streets Residents Association | Friends of Woodcock Park | WISE - West Indian Social Care and Education Project | CAVA - Picture Palace Harlesden

 

 Brent Friends of the Earth is also showing the "People's Emergency Briefing" film at Preston Community Library this Thursday 9th April at 7.30pm.

 This is based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden and others. Leading UK scientists present the latest evidence on extreme weather, Food security, Health, Cost of Living etc.

More information from info@brentfoe.com

Tickets HERE   

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Building the movement for rent controls: Tuesday April 7th 6.30pm at Ashford Place

From Brent London Renters Union 

Sign up here to our public educational event on Rent Controls with Dawn Butler MP, and spread the word!  LINK

📜 Training on the new Renters Rights Act won by renters
📉 How do rent controls work and how can we win them
🏡 Discussion on the housing system Brent needs
🪧 Mobilising for April 18th National Housing Demo for Social Housing and Rent Controls

Some local councillors and prospective councillors will be attending, so this will be an opportunity to push for the local housing policies we want to see before the May elections too.

Northwick Park Golf: Brent Council's historical responsibility to ensure it continues as open space available for public use

 Philip Grant posted a copy of his objection to Brent Cuncil's disposal of the  Northwick Park Gold open space as a comment on the recent article about the Northwick Community Garden's appeal. I asked that he allow me to share more prominently.  Here it is as a Guest Blog Post. Philip writes in a personal capacity.

 

 

From 'Middlesex' by C.W. Radcliffe (Published1939) 

     

'Dear Brent Property and Asset Management,

Further to your Notice dated 17 March 2026 in the "Brent & Kilburn Times", I am writing to object to the proposed disposal of open space land known as Northwick Park Golf at 280 Watford Road.

This land was acquired jointly by Middlesex County Council and Wembley Urban District Council (from October 1937 the Borough of Wembley) around 1936/37, under policies designed to ensure sufficient public open space in the rapidly expanding London suburban areas. The money borrowed from the Treasury for such purchases in the 1930s had to be approved by the then Ministry of Health, and one of the conditions for their consent was that the land should always remain as public open space.

The book "Middlesex", published by Middlesex County Council in 1939 to celebrate the Council's Golden Jubilee, and written by C.W. Radcliffe, Clerk and Solicitor to the County Council, records that the County Council's resolution to acquire the open space at Watford Road in Wembley was approved in 1936. Such acquisitions were usually funded 75% by the County Council and 25% by the local Council, and the book states:

'In June 1935 it was definitely decided that, in all future cases in which the County Council agreed to make a contribution of 50 per cent or more of the cost involved, the freehold of the land should be conveyed to the County Council. In such cases the general practice is for the land to be leased to the borough or district council in whose area it is situated, on a 999 years' lease at a nominal rent. The procedure has the advantage of enabling the County Council to exercise greater control of the open spaces than would otherwise be the case and the County Council is in a stronger position in preventing any unauthorized dealing with the land.'

Such 'unauthorized dealing' would include the use of the land for any purpose other than open space available for the public to use for recreational purposes. Under the local government reorganisation in 1965, Middlesex County Council ceased to exist, and the freehold interest in the land, as well as the leasehold interest held by the Borough of Wembley, passed to the new London Borough of Brent.

But as well as the freehold passing, so did the responsibility for ensuring that the successor to Middlesex County Council retained the freehold in that land, to ensure that it could only be used, for the rest of the 999 years, as open space available for public use. That is why Brent Council should not dispose of the freehold.

New urban developments now are much denser than they were in the 1930s, so maintaining existing open space is even more important. That is particularly so on this site, because of the high density housing development currently taking place next door to it in the grounds of Northwick Park Hospital. I trust that my objection, and those of others which I am aware of, will be upheld, and that Brent Council will not dispose of the freehold of this open space land. 

Yours faithfully,

Philip Grant