WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Gwen Grahl, Labour Party, has been elected to Brent Council after winning a seat in the Brondesbury Park by-election that was held yesterday.
This follows the resignation of former councillor, Kieron Gill, earlier this year.
4,083 residents in Brondesbury Park ward cast their votes, marking a turnout of 42.5%.
Green candidate Sheila Simpson beat the Liberal Democrat to achieve third place in the poll with 11.7% of the vote.
Sheila relaxes in Roundwood Park after campaigning against Centenetakoevr of GP surgeries at Willesden Centre
Brondesbury Park ward voters have an additional Brent Council
by-election poll tomorrow, please vote for our candidate Sheila Simpson. It is
time to elect more councillorswho are free to hold Brent Labour to account - however
much it annoys them! (cf Anton Georgiou)
The by-election was caused when the Labour councillor Kieron Gill resigned having been suspended from the Labour Group for voting against the Brent Council budget. Labour people with political principles tend not to last very long in Brent when they act on their principles and lose favour with 'The Leader.'
You have a choice of electing yet another Labour councillor (Number 59) subject to the diktat of The Leader or a truly independent person with the ability to make up her own mind based on green principles.
This is what Sheila says:
I've lived in Brent for over 25 years, working in the NHS and Local Government to support families and children’s well-being and believe well-run public services make a real difference to the quality of our lives.
I am offering voters the opportunity to register their support for green values. People want to be part of the solution, to build a fairer, healthier society, but know they can’t do it without good government. Our Council must be firmly challenged to deliver on promises made to us. Protection of our public housing, trees and green space is urgent. Traffic and public transport must be managed well to cut harmful emissions, reduce carbon footprint and provide cleaner, safer, greener and quieter neighbourhoods.
