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: TUSC candidate Nancy Taaffe

Nancy’s pitch: “I am not a career politician. I pledge only to take the wage of a skilled worker if elected. I’m a working-class socialist campaigner. I stand for the interests of working class people, no matter where we are from. I’ve stood and campaigned against everything we are now living through; the privatisation of transport, education, health and care. I’m also a lifelong anti-war activist.

It’s appalling that establishment politicians never instinctively called for a ceasefire in Gaza in October. I did. I won’t stop campaigning for socialist policies on the streets and in the workplaces.”

Read a breakdown of her polices below:

Housing:

There is now no way out of this housing nightmare for millions without mass council house provision.
We need to reintroduce rent caps to London, we need rent control and fair rent councils to be reestablished.
I stand for taking back all privatised empty flats and giving them to people in housing need.

Crime:

Working class people in London are the most affected by crime. The answer has to be investment: from things like street lighting and frequent public transport with full staffing at all times, to reinvestment in youth centres and youth offending teams.
Poverty breeds crime. I would use my position to campaign for genuine job opportunities and training schemes on proper rates of pay and secure contracts.

Transport & Environment:

We want investment in green, safe transport. We support transport workers fighting for decent pay, pensions and conditions and safety.
Instead of punitive measures like ULEZ and congestion charges, which disproportionately affect working-class people, we want investment and democratic public ownership.

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