Why are you standing for election?

Having lived in Hackney for over 25 years I have witnessed the failure of the Labour controlled council to deliver. I live in social housing. The lift is out virtually every week and the level of disrepair is breathtaking. When repairs are done, they are of such poor quality that it led to a damning report from the housing Ombudsman.

We deserve to live in well maintained and affordable housing. I want to see an end to rip off rents, eye watering house prices and a disregard for people’s needs. 

Furthermore, the sky rocketing house prices have led to a fracturing of our communities, with the closure of eight schools in the past two years and more cuts likely as families are cleansed out of Hackney due to unaffordability. I will fight to keep schools open to serve our communities and support education workers who take industrial action in opposing any cuts. I will campaign against punitive behaviour policies that target our most vulnerable pupils and fight for fully funded, inclusive education for all, from SEND and global majority to our LGBT+  pupils and colleagues. 

Finally, I want to see the end of our council’s complicity in genocide. I will continue to fight for the Local Government pension scheme to divest from companies such as Elbit and BAE Systems and for Hackney to de-twin from Haifa. I want to be part of an effective council, to stand up for the residents of London Fields and end the era of unaccountability.

What are three things you are most excited about in our manifesto for Hackney?

International solidarity: In a borough of such diversity, it is inspiring to fight for the rights of all our communities, supporting the rights of migrants and refugees, but in particular, to campaign to divest pension funds and de-twin from Haifa.

Young peoples’ mental health and well being: Hackney has a record number of school exclusions and a mental health catastrophe in our young people.  CAHMS is stretched to an extreme level and simply cannot support the number of referrals.  In part this is due to punitive zero tolerance behaviour policies, inflexible ways of engaging young people and the fact that schools have become exam factories.  On top of this, communities are being ripped apart by school closures. We have the most tested children in Europe, with our kids spending a third of their learning time sitting exams! 

Housing: “severe maladministration” has led to a stagnation of our social housing stock and has led to a net loss of social-rent family homes. The housing crisis is so acute that many London Fields residents simply cannot afford highly inflated private rents, particularly those on the London Living Wage, forcing them to live in houses of multiple occupation, often overcrowded and poorly maintained. Many young people cannot afford to live independently of, or even near to their parents. It is not uncommon for young workers to share with other people until into their 30s, with the average price of private renting a room in Hackney standing at around £1000. As a councillor, I want to see the introduction of rent caps, building of actually affordable housing that is in keeping with wages, the fining of unscrupulous landlords and an end to the property developer gravy train, where our land is sold off to build luxury developments that no-one can afford except the super rich.

What’s one thing residents might not know about you?

I am a bass player in a punk band!

Promoted by E. Henton on behalf of Sarah Byrne, c/o 5 Brayford Square, E1 0SG