Waltham Forest
London Assembly
Meral Ece is the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for the Assembly constituency of North East London, which covers Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest and where the Liberal Democrats came second to Labour in 2004. She has many years experience as a councillor in the area.
Born in Islington, Meral is the daughter of Turkish-Cypriot immigrants. She has lived in Islington and Hackney for most of her life and has three children. Meral knows only too well the challenges faced by families bringing up teenagers in inner-city London.
Blog: meralece.blogspot.com
Email: info@meralece.org.uk
Waltham Forest residents are represented on the London Assembly by five Liberal Democrats who cover the whole of London: Dee Doocey, Sally Hamwee, Geoff Pope, Graham Tope and group leader Mike Tuffrey.
The Liberal Democrats’ London-wide “top-up” list for the 2008 London Assembly election consists of Mike Tuffrey, Dee Doocey, Caroline Pidgeon, Jeremy Ambache, Geoff Pope, Ben Abbotts, Stephen Knight, Shas Sheehan, Duncan Borrowman, Monica Whyte and Merlene Emerson.
Parliament
Farid Ahmed is the Liberal Democrats’ parliamentary spokesperson for Walthamstow, where he grew up. He has worked locally and in the City, and has run his own business. He has worked with local youth groups and with a local charity for the elderly.
Farid’s main political interests are international affairs, finance, education, health and the elderly.
Cllr Farooq Qureshi is the Liberal Democrats’ parliamentary campaigner for the Leyton & Wanstead constituency, which includes Leyton and Leytonstone.
Email: cllr.farooq.qureshi@walthamforest.gov.uk
Sarah Ludford is the Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the whole of London.
Local Council
Keith Rayner is the Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council, and the leader of the 19 Liberal Democrat councillors in Waltham Forest.
Local councillors and activists are working hard to improve the lives of people acros the borough. Recent campaigns range from taking action against fly-tipping to a drive to save local post offices, with consultation on the closures for Leyton expected in February.
The most recent test of local opinion was February’s by-election held in Leyton Ward following the disqualification of disgraced Labour councillor Miranda Grell, who was found guilty of lying during the last local elections. Winnie Smith was elected by a large majority as the 20th Liberal Democrat councillor in Waltham Forest.
Websites: Leyton & Wanstead Liberal Democrats | Walthamstow Liberal Democrats
