Enfield and Haringey GLA Election: The candidates make their cases

Joanne McCartney has represented Enfield and Haringey since 2004, but will people choose her again or vote for someone new?

For those still undecided, we asked each of the five candidates to tell us five reasons why they should be elected. Can they convince you?

Joanne McCartney (Labour)

• I have a track record of standing up for local people as your London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, whether on policing, transport or protecting our green space.  I live in the constituency and am raising my children here. What matters here matters to me and my family.
• Safety at home and on our streets is vital. As Chair of the Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee I’ve been in the forefront challenging the Mayor’s fast and loose approach. I led the successful campaign to stop our community support officers being axed, and will continue to argue for proper neighbourhood policing.
• In Enfield and Haringey we’re hit daily with some of the highest public transport fares in the world. That’s why I support a fares freeze giving hard-pressed commuters a break. At the same time I’ll continue holding TfL to account to get service improvements and real accessibility for less able passengers.
• Our communities are at an affordable housing crisis point. We need more genuinely affordable homes, both to rent and buy. My pledge is to make those affordable housing promises a reality, at the same time protecting our vital Green Belt and open spaces.
• London’s an unequal city and that’s bad for all of us. It’s a scandal a third of jobs in Enfield and Haringey pay less than the London Living Wage, with training in short supply. I’ll work with employers to make London truly a high skill Living Wage City.

Linda Kelly (Conservative)

• I am standing as your candidate as I should like to be a clear strong voice for Enfield and Haringey in the GLA. I will not make you a promise I won't or can't keep.
• To ensure your needs and Enfield and Haringey's needs are taken into account in issues like the green belt, housing, development, policing, business and transport.
• To be an advocate when consultations take place they are not tick box exercises but will result in the outcome the majority really want.
• I do not intend to sit in City Hall till the next election but be visible in both Boroughs. I will hold the Mayor to account, regardless of being in the same party, my role is to represent the people who will elect me, which I will not forget or take for granted. 
• I have had 12 years of Local Government experience to support my efforts.  Together with Zac Goldsmith if you give us your trust we will make London, and Enfield and Haringey stronger, greener, safer and ensure we build homes for families and communities to grow and develop. 

Nicholas DaCosta (Liberal Democrats)

• I am passionate about Enfield & Haringey and I want to work hard to ensure that the views of all residents are heard in the GLA. To do this I want to hold surgeries all across the two boroughs regularly, so that local residents can speak to me.
• I would be vociferous in holding the Mayor to account, regardless who is elected. Enfield and Haringey need a strong voice - I want to be their voice.
• As a private renter, I understand the issues that many young Londoners face; I've had my own share of rogue landlords. I would stand up to the Mayor to ensure that private renters are not exploited and also challenge Enfield and Haringey councils to ensure that they fine landlords who do not stand up to their commitments. For example, in Haringey the Council has not fined or given notice to any landlords for not installing smoke detectors in their properties.
• I would challenge the Mayor and local councils to ensure that they deliver on their pledges for affordable housing; Haringey Council has only built 5 affordable houses in 27 years! The Tottenham Hotspurs development has NO affordable housing at all! This is not the Haringey that residents need.
• I want to open up City Hall for young people, get them engaged in politics and encourage them to take part in City Hall debates. I want young people to see how important City Hall can be and listen to them. 

Ronald Stewart (Green)

• Our policy of having an all-modes and one-zone public transport ticket is crucial. People in Enfield shouldn’t expect to pay more for public transport, whether we travel further to work or need multiple modes of transport to get around.
• The Green Party stands for a different vision of London’s housing – we’ll build 50,000 per year with residents put ahead of buy-to-let investors. Our London Renters Union calls for better security for those who don’t have access to the housing ownership ladder.
• I have led Green Party air pollution monitoring in Enfield and Haringey and we were shocked by the results. EU legal limits for pollution are broken by Enfield’s air. A health crisis is unfolding – pollution is now a bigger contributor to lung diseases in London than smoking. Only the Green Party is ready to take action to curb diesel polluting vehicles across the whole city.
• Sian Berry will spend 15% of the transport budget on cycling, with segregated cycle tracks making bicycling safer for regular people in regular clothes. Replacing cars with bikes will ease congestion and benefit everyone, making Enfield a more pleasant borough also to walk around.
• A vote on the proportional orange ballot will see Green Party members elected back onto the London Assembly. I feel especially proud of the work that Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson have done to promote the London Living Wage, and we will continue this work ensuring that public and private workers in London can expect a fairer wage.

Neville Watson (UKIP)

• I am an authentic Enfield and Haringey anti-establishment community voice , that will always put your needs above the wants of any party and in so doing hold the Mayor to account ensuring the best deal for Enfield and Haringey.
• I will ensure our police numbers are never reduced and moreover negotiate with local business to help sponsor more local community officers, while at the same time in the name of good community relationships, encourage officers to stay in the area for longer rather than being constantly moved on.
• I will also campaign for statutory minimum sentences for knife crime offences, while supporting intelligence led and suspicious behaviour stop and search as this accounts for 15 per cent of all London arrests.
• I will ensure that homes built under the affordable homes programme benefit local people who have lived in the borough for at least five years
• I will campaign to get Enfield and Haringey to support local retailers by providing 30 minute free parking in High Streets and shopping parades in the borough, while at the same time campaign for a seven day, 24 hour tube network to support those shift workers in our borough.