Category: LocalElections2025

Mahendra Negi is the Reform UK candidate for the Alperton ward by-election on Tuesday 18 February in the London Borough of Brent. We spoke with Mahendra about his decision to stand.

“after four decades of experience working with Banks and IT services, I took voluntary retirement in 2022. I have since devoted myself to voluntary work across the community”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

My name is Mahendra Negi, and I am standing in the Alperton ward by-election for the London Borough of Brent. I live in Wembley, Brent and after four decades of experience working with Banks and IT services, I took voluntary retirement in 2022. I have since devoted myself to voluntary work across the community, volunteering within education, social services and the Metropolitan Police.

I have been on two educational panels and a Governor at three schools in Brent. Recently, I have also been elected to chair a Ward Panel for the Safer Neighbourhood Teams initiative. I am part of the Brent India Association and Brent Indian Community, and an active participant in various cultural activities, through Sanatan Charities, temples and SwamiNarayan sanstha.

As a volunteer, I have also had opportunities to participate in school visits to mosques and churches. These initiatives and my participation in the Brent Multi Faith Forum, enable me to contribute towards promoting inter-faith dialogue and harmony within our various communities.

What are the main concerns in the area?
“The availability of fair and affordable homes for local families in Alperton and the abysmal tenant satisfaction rates of council tenants”

You’re the candidate for Alperton. What are the main concerns in the area?

The state and safety of our streets. The availability of fair and affordable homes for local families in Alperton and the abysmal tenant satisfaction rates of council tenants. The need for infrastructure to match the community’s needs with ongoing developments. 

“The cost of living being compounded by council tax increases and waste across the council”

What do you see as the major issues more widely in Brent and if elected what do you hope to champion?

The cost of living being compounded by council tax increases and waste across the council. Much needed support for small local businesses and available parking.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

Please email chair.ealing.brent@reformuk.com.  You can also follow Mahendra on X/Twitter at https://x.com/MaheNegi.

The Labour government is undertaking consultations to reorganise local government, part of which may mean the cancellation of local elections in Surrey.  This has led to an extraordinary meeting of Surrey County Council to be held on 8^th January 2025. 

The Surrey Reform UK team have asked local supporters to write to their county councillors to reject the postponement of May 2025 elections, using text from the template provided below. With the meeting being held on the 8^th January, time is of the essence.  Whilst written for Reform members anyone based in Surrey could use the template.  If you want to support democracy and local elections going ahead, please write out before the January 8^th meeting.

The agenda of the meeting is contained here. 

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TEMPLATE LETTER TO USE IN WRITING TO YOUR  COUNTY COUNCILLOR

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To – Who is my SCC Councilor? Your Councillors – Surrey County Council

Cc – Leader of the Council – tim.oliver@surreycc.gov.uk

bcc – Emily Dalton Local Democracy Reporter for GetSurrey emily.dalton@reachplc.com

bcc – Reform UK Surrey – surrey@reformuk.com

Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms _____

RE: Extraordinary meeting of Surrey County Council to be held 8^th January 2025

As a constituent and voter in your division, I would like to stress my concerns around the details and expectations of the above meeting. I shall not comment on the Governments Devolution and Local Government Reform proposals which the Council is asked to endorse.

My concerns are;

1. Deciding to postpone elections without consultation with ones constituents is flagrantly undemocratic.
2. The current crop of councilors have served their fixed term of office and will hold no democratic mandate from May 2025 onwards.
3. The proposed timeline for the completion of devolution by May 2026, in order to hold elections, is purely aspirational. There are no legally binding assurances with the actions of Westminster and their legislative calendars will now control the timelines of local democracy.
4. With no mandate for these changes in the current Labour Governments manifesto and current councilors having reached the end of the fixed term. The public has the right to elect a new crop of councilors who may better represent the views and wishes of their constituents.

In conclusion, I ask you to consider my concerns and vote to ensure County Council elections are held in May 2025.

Yours sincerely,

Your name and address

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Main image from Antbex74 (talk | contribs) at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Surrey.jpg