Ahead of the London City Hall elections on 2nd May, the Echo takes a look at the candidates running to represent Waltham Forest on the London Assembly. Next up is Liberal Democrat candidate Rebecca Jones

Rebecca Jones (right) with Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London Rob Blackie (left), Credit: Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats

University student Rebecca Jones believes the London Assembly needs to more look like London.

Speaking exclusively to the Echo, Rebecca says if elected to represent the people of Waltham Forest on 2nd May, she would push for an end to a “culture of misogyny” in the Metropolitan Police, campaign for more Night Tubes, and oppose residential skyscrapers.

As a transgender and openly bisexual woman, she made clear that fighting for LGBT+ rights is central to her campaign, and, being 20-years-old, says that she would be the youngest London Assembly member. Rebecca has experience of running for political office before; in 2023 she came 18 votes short of becoming councillor in her home county of Devon.

Read a breakdown of her policy proposals below:

Housing:

We need to build as much housing as possible, but we need to make sure that it is appropriate and suitable for its surroundings.
Huge towers like The Mall in Walthamstow look out of place. I would fight for more five-storey buildings, rather than skyscrapers.
Young people need to be able to afford to live in London, and not be pushed further and further out of the city. I would fight for renters rights.

Police/Crime:

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There needs to be serious change at the Met. If I’m elected to the London Assembly I will push for an end to a culture of misogyny in the police, and ensure that the targeting of women and girls by police officers like Wayne Couzens stops.
I will make sure that the Mayor is held to account on his decisions regarding the Metropolitan Police, and I promise to scrutinise appointments to the body.
I will fight to make sure that women and girls feel safe at night on London’s streets.

Transport:

The tube is fantastic but it has been left to rot by Sadiq Khan and the government. If you live in outer London, like I do, it’s hard to get home late at night. London shouldn’t be a city that shuts at 11pm. I will push for the Weaver Line to be open all night on Fridays and Saturdays and to run until 1am on weekdays.

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