Siobhan Benita: Talking to Black Londoners

As a non-partisan organisation, OBV does not endorse any one candidate or Party but we do support BME candidates. Today we have given a platform to Siobhan Benita, the Independent London Mayoral candidate. In the next few days we will also look at BME Greater London Assembly candidates.

Good luck to Siobhan and all the BME candidates around the country contesting local seats.

Simon Woolley

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When I was invited to write an article for this site I was delighted. This is an important opportunity to set out my policies for London and explain why I believe that BME communities in particular should vote for me on 3 May. As a new, independent candidate, I have not been given fair coverage during this election, so I am very grateful to Simon and everyone at OBV for helping me to get my voice heard.

I am the only independent candidate in this election; that means that I am not aligned to a political party. Like many people in London, I have lost trust in the traditional party politicians. On the 3 May, people will be asked to elect an individual leader for London – we don’t have to have a party politician in that position. We need a Mayor who will spend their time fighting for Londoners, not fighting old political-party battles.

I have a strong range of polices and you can find more details on my website at www.siobhnformayor.com Some of the highlights are:

• Investing in our children - building more primary schools, improving the transition to secondary school and ensuring that all students have the modern, relevant skills that will help them get jobs when they leave school,
• Appointing a Young Mayor for London and creating a Greater London Youth Assembly so that young people can make a positive contribution to life in the capital,
• Helping more Londoners to get a home - introducing a fixed-price housing market for London which will provide 80,000 low-cost homes that can never be sold into the private market,
• Launching a full and wholly independent review of the Metropolitan Police Service, to reduce inefficiency and eliminate discrimination and bad practice,
• Freezing transport fares until April 2014, offering discounted travel to those earning below the London Living Wage and free travel for those actively seeking work,
• Working with councils to identify the top five local issues that residents care about in each borough and holding councils to account for improvements in these areas each year,
• Making the mayor more accountable and approachable - holding open meetings with the public every fortnight,
• Holding an annual London Mayor’s Equality and Diversity Awards to recognise companies and individuals that have done outstanding work in promoting equality and diversity in the capital.

I’m hugely proud of London’s diversity - my own mum immigrated to London from India when she was just 10 years old. I will promote and celebrate that diversity proudly. But, I also recognise that we do not have an equal society and that is not acceptable. My pledge to all voters is that I will work tirelessly to improve opportunities for all communities, driving out discrimination and inequality in every area of London life.

Siobhan Benita