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Tottenham candidates make their pitch for your vote

Seven out of the ten Tottenham candidates standing for parliament have written about why they are standing and what they aim to achieve if they win on 4th July

The Tottenham constituency may not have changed names for this election, but its boundaries have still been altered, with two wards from neighbouring Hackney borough being added to it and the previous Tottenham wards of White Hart Lane and Harringay being removed.

David Lammy has represented the constituency for the Labour Party ever since 2000, when he took over from the legendary Bernie Grant after his death. In that time Labour’s dominance in the seat has grown and grown, with Lammy winning 81% and 79% of the vote share in the previous two general elections.

Challenging him this time will be nine opponents representing a wide spectrum of parties, as well as one independent candidate standing in opposition to Lammy’s stance on the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

All ten Tottenham candidates were invited to contribute to this preview piece, but only seven responded. They are included below in the order they were received. A full list of the candidates standing for Tottenham can be found here.

Nandita Lal, independent

Nandita Lal

I am standing as the independent socialist candidate for Tottenham because I believe this constituency deserves an MP who is rooted in the community and stands up for it. I came out of Haringey and Tottenham Palestine Action, a grassroots organisation that holds our leaders to account for their complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.

I know from the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with Tottenham residents in recent months, that people want an immediate ceasefire and an arms embargo on Israel, and they are outraged by their current MP’s support for Israel as it kills thousands of Palestinian children.

I work for a climate change NGO and I care deeply about global and local issues. I live in the constituency, my children go to school here, and I know that people feel like they’re being ignored. If elected, I will work tirelessly to improve the lives of Tottenham residents: that means better, more affordable housing; ending low-pay and protecting workers’ rights; properly funding public services and ending privatisation; ending discrimination in our communities and funding youth clubs instead of more racist policing; understanding migration is not a crime and welcoming all refugees and migrants; and taking urgent action on the climate and nature crises.

As well as being a voice in Parliament on these issues, if elected I will continue the conversation with residents through public assemblies and I commit to donating half my salary to local causes agreed with communities.

Amelia Allao, Christian People’s Alliance

I’m Amelia Allao. I’ve worked for the NHS in St Bartholomew Hospital in central London for almost 20 years. This has given me the experience of working in a diverse community and working for and serving the public which I find very rewarding. My aim is always to do my best for the community. I’ve lived near Tottenham for about 40 years and love this community. I want to serve the community I love.

My major concern is the breakdown of the family and marriage. I’m from the Philippines originally and in our community we have close families which look after and care for each other. It used to be like that in the UK but it’s not now. The government have estimated that the breakdown of marriage is costing the country £48bn per year. With our policy of giving a grant of £12,000 before a first marriage provided the couple go for at least 3 sessions of training is designed to make it foolish not to get married and take advantage of the grants. Marriage means stability and a safer environment for children to grow up in. I want to make sure there are good youth facilities here in Tottenham so young people are engaged in positive activity.

We will remove the three-week waiting period for benefits and guarantee anyone sleeping rough a night shelter with a free meal. We run food banks and care for the poor. The money to pay for our pledges will come from a turnover tax explained in our manifesto, cutting quangos and removing the additional social requirements from Government contracts. Together these measures will raise £180bn. Our policies make sense. Please vote for them.

Drew Miles, Rejoin EU

Drew Miles

I am standing in the general election for Tottenham constituency to demonstrate my and my party’s

rejection of Brexit. The last eight years have been a time of chaos and division in this country, and no single factor in this chaos has been more important than Brexit. Brexit is the single biggest problem undermining our society.

It’s the engine behind the cost of living crisis; it’s reducing our ability to live, work & holiday abroad and it takes away from the next generation the educational opportunities we could all enjoy through Erasmus. Brexit has undermined British prestige and credibility in the world. Governmental rhetoric about the UK’s “world-beating” international position is a hollow sham.

By the big parties not mentioning Brexit, we have one of the most dishonest elections we’ve ever seen. My claim to be the next MP for this constituency rests on my willingness to point out this dishonesty and raise my political voice against it.

That’s why I’m putting myself forward in this election : if elected I will ensure parliament has at least one voice calling out Brexit for what it is – a con! I hope and believe that as time goes by there will be more MPs, from a range of parties, who agree with me. Tottenham has the opportunity to take the lead by sending a Rejoiner to parliament in 2024. They can be sure that my voice will always be speaking up against Brexit and for the Rejoin cause.

Hari Prabu, Liberal Democrats

Hari Prabu

I’m running as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Tottenham because I want to improve our community’s wellbeing and quality of life. Despite a strong local community and thriving culture, Tottenham is unfortunately still one of the most deprived places to live in London and we shouldn’t allow this to continue with another five years of Labour in our area.

My priorities for Tottenham are tackling crime and antisocial behaviour; creating cleaner, greener public spaces; providing better access to jobs and skills for all.

Tottenham hasn’t been given the attention it deserves from Labour to make it a fairer, cleaner and safer place to live, with new opportunities for the people who live here and renewed public spaces. The issues we face are particularly challenging but I will deliver renewal and ensure that the benefits of redevelopment are felt by our whole community.

I’ve lived in Tottenham since 2015 and ran for election in nearby Alexandra Park in the London local elections in 2022. I am keen to continue to work hard to support the residents of Haringey and ensure that our voices are heard on the issues that matter most. Having studied a masters in politics and communication at the London School of Economics, and worked in political engagement for several years, across the creative industries and major public infrastructure companies, I know I can use my experience in dealing with significant policy issues and building relationships with politicians across all parties to deliver change for the people of Tottenham.

Pamela Holmes, Communist League

Pamela Holmes

A party of labour based on the unions that defends the interests of all working people – in the UK and worldwide.

Which class rules is the central question facing workers everywhere. Break from the capitalist parties: Conservative, Labour, LibDem, Reform, Greens, SNP.

Capitalist rulers’ devastation and march to war. It’s not who you’re against, but what you’re for. Build, strengthen trade unions for pay and conditions that prevent families in working class being torn apart; not a penny, not a person for UK’s imperialist wars; fight Jew-hatred, defend Israel’s right to exist as a refuge for Jews; back Ukraine people’s fight for independence; protect democratic freedoms; oppose ‘cancel culture’.

Workers need to take political power – defend Cuba’s socialist revolution, an example for working people everywhere. Strengthen trade unions.

Attic Rahman, Conservative Party

Attic Rahman

To me, Tottenham is a living, breathing example of conservative values in action – having aspirations, a sense of purpose, a vision, but above all, hard work and tenacity.

I believe in taking personal responsibility and promoting family values. A good economy, low taxes and a ‘hand up, not a handout’ approach. Striving for a better life should be encouraged and rewarded, not shunned.

I started working from the age of 16 as a kitchen porter, then a waiter. I qualified as a solicitor and set up a successful business. I have the skills and experience to make a difference in your community.

I understand that businesses know how best to run their business, creating jobs and building wealth. How low taxation helps businesses invest. How training is beneficial for the employer as well as the employee. How important it is to tackle crime to have thriving high streets that bring family, friends, and communities together.

I am passionate about getting people back into work where they can do so. I welcome the Conservatives’ ambitious apprenticeship scheme – giving local people work experience and the opportunity to gain experience new skills and experience.

Although I appreciate fiscal responsibility in reducing the budget deficit and cutting debt, I strongly believe in helping working people keep more of their own money, such as reducing the National Insurance contributions which will have a transformative effect on working families.

I have lived these experiences – that is why I am standing to be your next MP.

David Craig, Green Party

I am standing here in Tottenham because only the Green Party has real solutions to the serious problems our country currently faces.

I’m a strong believer in our 2024 manifesto, which details plans to revitalise our public services – including the NHS – through a new tax system focused on wealth, business and carbon. We’re also the only party taking climate change seriously and were among the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, on 9th October 2023.

Personally, I take the view that MPs’ salaries are too high. Therefore, if elected, I have pledged to donate one third of my post-tax income to charities decided in collaboration with my constituents. This is just one way I want to actively engage with our community and champion the causes that we care the most about.

I joined the Green Party after feeling great disappointment in Labour’s shift to the right of politics. And now, with a Labour majority all but certain, it’s vitally important that we have Green MPs to pressure the party into being fairer and more ambitious with its policies. We need bold ideas to steer us through these uncertain times.

A vote for myself and the Green Party sends a clear message to the political establishment that the people of Tottenham are not content with the status quo. When we say “change”, we’re not just talking about the colour of a tie. We’re talking about giving this country – and this community – real hope for the future. Vote Green!


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