Steve Gardner Uxbridge – Croydon Constitutionalists

Steve Gardner, SDP candidate for Hillingdon East ward in London Borough of Hillingdon.

With local elections across London in May, we speak with Steve Gardner, SDP candidate for Hillingdon East ward in London Borough of Hillingdon.

“People want to and have a right to feel safe in their community and homes. We do have a safer neighbourhood team for the ward, but this is understaffed and overworked”

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

My name is Steve Gardner and I’m standing for the SDP in the London ward of Hillingdon East, where I live along with most of my family.

You’re the prospective candidate for Hillingdon East ward, what are the major concerns in the area?

From speaking to those who live in the area and from my own observations, I would say the main concerns are community safety, HMO overdevelopment and fly tipping. Obviously, there are others, but these are three that come up quite often.

Hillingdon East is quite a nice place to live but there are anti-social issues that need addressing. People want to and have a right to feel safe in their community and homes. We do have a safer neighbourhood team for the ward, but this is understaffed and overworked. I don’t think this problem is just in this ward; I think it’s common all over London. More must be done when it comes to community Policing and safety.

“making it cheaper for commercial waste to be disposed of at local refuse sites might help to reduce fly tipping so there is a lot to consider”

HMOs are another major concern, especially with the migrant hotels closing. We are quite close to Heathrow and there are a few migrant hotels there so the Borough as a whole is under pressure to accommodate not just its own residents, but many others that have ended up here. There are a few HMO applications in the ward and to be honest, it’s difficult for the infrastructure to accommodate them. Additionally, HMO’s result in a loss of family housing, an increase in waste management, an increase in tenant turnover which can lead to an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour and an increase in parking issues and traffic. Most houses accommodate two car families, but HMOs can have up to four or five cars.

As for fly tipping, this is common all over the borough and so much more needs to be done. Installing covert cameras in known hotspots and increased penalties are needed and the seizure and crushing of vehicles involved needs to be rigorously enforced. Additionally, making it cheaper for commercial waste to be disposed of at local refuse sites might help to reduce fly tipping so there is a lot to consider.

More widely what do you see as the big issues for the London Borough of Hillingdon and what if elected what would you hope to champion?

According to residents and local reports, the biggest issues in the London Borough of Hillingdon include a severe shortage of affordable housing and high homelessness rates, rising antisocial behavior and concerns over high-density, low-quality Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). People are also concerned about the state of the Council’s finances and the Heathrow expansion.

I would certainly champion a more robust Policing policy as this, in my opinion, would do a lot to alleviate many problems people are concerned about. The politicians have massively let down the Police who have been unable to carry out their jobs properly. They should be supported, backed and encouraged to proactively police our communities to make them safer.

Additionally, I’m passionate about a sense of community so affordable housing with priority given to Hillingdon residents is also high on my list. Cheaper housing is also an SDP policy which we have been championing for years.

“I’m passionate about a sense of community so affordable housing with priority given to Hillingdon residents is also high on my list”

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

I’m on social media so either on my twitter page @SGardnerSDP, or via Facebook @SDPNWLondon.

I can also be contacted via email on steve.gardner@sdp.org.uk

More information on the SDP can be found on our website – https://sdp.org.uk.

Steve Gardner, SDP candidate for Uxbridge & South Ruislip

Steve Gardner is the SDP prospective candidate for Uxbridge & South Ruislip. At the time we interviewed him for our Podcast, and afterwards about his experiences. Now we speak with Steve about his decision to stand again.

“The only way that we can facilitate positive change is to get involved and do something about it. I’ve fought a few campaigns for the SDP and I’m looking forward to fighting a few more!”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our new readers?

My name is Steve Gardner and i’m the Parliamentary Prospective Candidate for the Social Democratic Party in Uxbridge & South Ruislip.

What made you decide to stand for the SDP?

I hadn’t really found the party that I agreed with until I was signposted to the SDP on social media around 4 years ago. Like most people of a particular age, I hadn’t realised that they were still going and after having read their policies, I agreed with the majority of them, so I took the plunge and joined. I would say my politics are more centre right, but I like the fact the SDP also look to the left economically. The party and I share a lot of the same values and they’re the only common-sense party out there. The only way that we can facilitate positive change is to get involved and do something about it. I’ve fought a few campaigns for the SDP and I’m looking forward to fighting a few more!

“Listening to the constituents is critical! I live in the constituency I’m standing in, as do my family and friends so I have a really good understanding of what the local issues are”

You stood in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the recent by-election. What do you take from that into the General Election campaign?

Listening to the constituents is critical! I live in the constituency I’m standing in, as do my family and friends so I have a really good understanding of what the local issues are. The job of a Politician is to be the mouthpiece for the people in Parliament; they are your boss. It’s as simple as that. Regardless of what your vision for the area is, number one on the agenda should be what the constituents want, regardless of what you or the party you represent want.

“The biggest concerns are ULEZ, the cost of living and community safety. Hopefully, the current Mayor of London will be ousted by our candidate, Amy Gallagher”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

The biggest concerns are ULEZ, the cost of living and community safety. Hopefully, the current Mayor of London will be ousted by our candidate, Amy Gallagher, who will scrap this ridiculous stealth tax. As an MP though, more pressure should be put on the Mayor to address this. The cost of living is ludicrous and more needs to be done by those in office to help those struggling, especially in the winter months where people have a decision to heat or eat. It’s disgusting that the UK should be in this situation. Additionally, I want our communities to feel safe again. The Police need to be backed by our Politicians to actually do their jobs properly, without fear or favour. It’s evident that there is a two-tier Policing system in place and this needs to stop. The law of this country is the law and no-one should be above that.

I’d also like to add, for those who are unsure, that a woman is an adult female that has the capability to give birth, has a uterus, a womb and XX chromosomes. I get asked this question a lot but to me, the answer is obvious.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign? (if available please include Facebook, Twitter, emails etc)

I have a social media presence on Twitter (X) – @SGardnerSDP, Facebook – Steve Gardner Social Democratic Party (@SDPNWLondon) or you can check out what the SDP stands for on our website, sdp.org.uk.

Alternatively, I can be contacted on my email address steve.gardner@sdp.org.uk.

Tales from Uxbridge – Steve Gardner, SDP candidate in the recent by-election

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a candidate at the centre of a high-profile election? Just after the results for the Uxbridge & South Ruislip by-election, we caught up with Steve Gardner the SDP candidate for his tales from Uxbridge.

“I knew it would be high profile but I didn’t think it would be the circus it was!”

What made you first take the step to be the SDP candidate for Uxbridge, and did you imagine it would lead to you standing in a high-profile by-election?

When i joined the SDP in 2020 I informed them that I would be willing to stand as a candidate for the London Assembly, which I duly did. I also stood as a candidate in the local elections, and I stated that I would also be willing to stand in a general election. As it was, at the time, Boris Johnson’s seat I felt obliged to stand should a general election be called! I knew it would be high profile but I didn’t think it would be the circus it was!

You were interviewed by local and national media. What are your thoughts on being interviewed and on dealing with the press?

The press that I did have dealings with were really good. I take my hat off to the Hillingdon Herald who were fair to all the candidates and to Rod Liddle for painting me in a good light in an article he wrote for The Sun! I didn’t have a problem being interviewed as I saw it as a vehicle to get my message and that of the SDP across. Being a smaller party, we tend to get ignored by the mainstream media.

“a canvasser for Labour knocked at my door and said “Hi. Will you consider a vote for Labour?” I handed her one of my leaflets that had a big picture of my face on it which she took, nonplussed”

You were out campaigning hard during the election. How did you find your interactions with the public and are there any funny stories from the campaign trail?

My interactions with the public took place in the evenings or weekends due to work, but I loved it. A lot of people were genuinely interested in what I had to say and equally, I was interested in their views because that’s what politicians should do; listen to the people. The only two incidents that really made me chuckle were when campaigning in Uxbridge one Saturday, two women came up to me requesting a leaflet saying “Yep. We’ll be voting for you. No question. We’ve been following your campaign and you’re the one for us”. After taking the leaflet and walking off a few paces, one of them turned around and said “Hang on. You’re not that Labour bloke!” The other was when a canvasser for Labour knocked at my door and said “Hi. Will you consider a vote for Labour?” I handed her one of my leaflets that had a big picture of my face on it which she took, nonplussed. She looked at it again, then looked back at me then said “Oh. It’s you!” She left but she took my leaflet with her, so I consider that a win.

I believe the Conservative and Labour candidates pulled out of the hustings? How did you find the hustings, and how did you find the other candidates?

It was a shame Labour & the Conservatives pulled out of the Hustings at Brunel University that the Hillingdon Herald organised. However, it was a really good night with some excellent questions from the audience. I really enjoyed it. I got on well with all the other candidates; they really were a nice bunch and were passionate in their beliefs. I also made a new friend in Rebecca Jane from UKIP who is super intelligent and funny.

“if you really believe in your cause, you should fight for it. It might take time, but it’s worth it. Nothing will ever change if we do nothing”

Do you have any advice for people thinking of standing for election?

It’s easier standing if you’re in a party, even a small and upcoming one like the SDP! The only way that we’ll get political change in this country is if we vote for it so if you really believe in your cause, you should fight for it. It might take time, but it’s worth it. Nothing will ever change if we do nothing.

You can find out more about Steve’s campaign from our interview and podcast with him. You can also follow Steve on Twitter, or Facebook. More information on the SDP can be found at https://sdp.org.uk.

Podcast Episode 85 – Steve Gardner: SDP for Uxbridge & South Ruislip – ULEZ, Policing & Housing

We are joined by Steve Gardner, the SDP candidate for Uxbridge & South Ruislip in the upcoming Parliamentary by-election. Steve tells us about his background in the army, his love for his home constituency and his priorities of; scrapping the ULEZ expansion, improved pro-active policing and suitable and affordable housing.

You can also read interview with Steve mentioned in the podcast at https://croydonconstitutionalists.uk/steve-gardner-uxbridge/

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Contents:
00:00 – Intro
01:24 – Background in the Army
05:00 – The Constituency
06:48 – Priorities
12:20 – How to get involved
14:00 – Website & Events
16:22 – Outro

Steve Gardner, SDP candidate for Uxbridge & South Ruislip by-election.

Following the resignation of Boris Johnson from Parliament, a by-election has been called in the Uxbridge & South Ruislip constituency for the 20^th July. We’ve spoken local man Steve Gardner, who is the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for election.

“The SDP is a patriotic, economically left-leaning and socially right leaning, culturally traditional party”

This may be the first time some people have had a chance to vote for the SDP. Can you introduce the party and say a bit about what it stands for.

The SDP is a patriotic, economically left-leaning and socially right leaning, culturally traditional party. We’ve been going for some time and these days, we’re a grass roots party with no vested interests. We have long term policies and genuinely want to improve things for the better. After feeling politically homeless, I was directed to the SDP and I liked what I saw!

“My entire family reside in the constituency with the vast majority of us in Hillingdon and it really is a great place to live”

Can you introduce yourself to the people of Uxbridge & South Ruislip, and also tell us what got you involved in politics?

My name is Steve Gardner and I’ve lived in the constituency for over 25 years. I served in the British Army for five years and was operational during the First Gulf War. I was also an Army Cadet Officer for 15 years, leaving as a Captain. My entire family reside in the constituency with the vast majority of us in Hillingdon and it really is a great place to live. I just want to make it better and safer. I’m sure those who live in the surrounding areas of Ickenham, Yiewsley, Cowley and West Drayton would agree.

I never really had any interest in becoming a politician but I was urged to do so by family and friends. The system is broken; politicians no longer seem to work for the people and that needs to change. To do this you have to join the system. To be elected as the representative of your community is one of the highest honours one can achieve and shouldn’t be taken lightly. We urgently need to shake the system up for the better.

“Scrap the ULEZ extension. It’s a stealth tax that will have a minimal effect on the environment. It’s just a way of making easy money and it’s always the motorist who has to pay the price”

If elected what are the local challenges you want to champion?

My three main election issues are to:

Scrap the ULEZ extension. It’s a stealth tax that will have a minimal effect on the environment. It’s just a way of making easy money and it’s always the motorist who has to pay the price. It’s outrageous that it’s got this far and people are rightfully angry.
To fight crime through improved pro-active policing. The politicians have massively let down the Police who have been unable to carry out their jobs properly. They should be supported, backed and encouraged to pro-actively police our communities to make them safer. Everyone should be able to feel safe and secure.
To have affordable and suitable housing that prioritises local residents. The main reason that the community spirit is absent is because people can’t afford to live where they grew up which means they move out of the area. They should have priority over local housing. Communities that bond are safer communities for all.

How can people find out more and get involved in your campaign?

Through social media either on my twitter page @SGardnerSDP, or via Facebook @SDPNWLondon. More information on the SDP can be found on our website – https://sdp.org.uk.

I’m confident that people will read our policies and agree with the majority of them and hopefully support us. We’re the only real credible alternative to the same old show that gets played out every few years. It’s time for change.