“I am asking you to vote for me as the first Green Party mayor of Tower Hamlets if you agree with me on some basic ideas on local, national and international politics. The four years I have spent as a councillor have convinced me that Tower Hamlets needs a totally new way of dealing with the issues that concern everyone who lives here.
Housing is my top priority. Too many council homes have been sold off to landlords who rent them out to tourists or to people who are entitled to a home of their own. Much of the housing stock has become run down so that landlords can make as much money as possible. This has to stop.
On transport, the current mayor feels that the minority of households which have access to cars are more important than the 70% of local households which do not. Part of making Tower Hamlets safer, greener and healthier is to focus on enabling people, especially our children, to breathe clean air, walk, cycle and use good quality public transport.
I am proud to have protested on the streets of Tower Hamlets against far right extremists who have tried to turn our community against migrants and refugees. The hateful, misogynistic abuse I received has only made me even more determined to stand up for those who need our support, wherever they come from.
I am a passionate supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights. I attend Gay Pride and Trans Pride which are still protests, especially for the Trans community. I want to make Tower Hamlets a welcoming place for everyone irrespective of their gender identity or sexuality.
Like virtually everyone in Tower Hamlets, I have been appalled by the genocide in Gaza. While other national parties which will be contesting this election have loudly supported Israel’s actions, my party and I have spoken out against it.
I also believe that we need to do politics differently in Tower Hamlets. The tone of some debates I’ve seen has been unpleasant, residents don’t trust politicians and that harms all of us. I have a solid record of working with members of other parties on issues we agree on, and I would continue to do that as Mayor to make the council work better for the deserving people of this borough.
If you want a mayor who will take a principled ethical stand in support of students and workers in Bangladesh rebelling against a corrupt political class and you care about what is happening in Yemen, Sudan and Somalia I will be the mayor who is on your side.”
Vote Nathalie Bienfait for a mayor who stands for social and climate justice locally and internationally.