Andrea Carey
Andrea Carey

In 2020, London will go to the polls to elect a new Mayor and members of the London Assembly. The London Green Party are now in the process of selecting their candidates for those elections. Bright Green is offering every candidate seeking selection an opportunity to tell our readers why they should be selected. One of these candidates is Andrea Carey, who has the following to say:

I believe strongly in equality and diversity in all aspects of life. I’ve campaigned within our Party for more diversity in our Leadership. And I would like to see more LGBTIQA+ Greens and Greens of colour repesenting the Green Party in positions of power. We have the best equality policies of all of the mainstream political parties. Yet we have a lot to do to truly convince people and especially people from a diverse range of backgrounds, that we are the Party for everyone and not just the ‘white’ middle classes.

Brexit and business

I support the campaign for a People’s Vote & will stand up for the rights of EU citizens living in London, as well as for the EU human, social and environmental European laws to be converted into British Law if any acceptable Brexit deal goes ahead.

Local independent businesses now more than ever need our support to help them survive the current economic crisis and as someone who has set up a business enterprise in the past, and is supporting local businesses through a Neighbourhood Forum, I am keen to support small independent businesses and promote the circular economy model – recycle, re-use, repair, refurbish, reduce emissions.

A better London for young people

My background is in providing independent advocacy to a wide range of dis-empowered people. This is why I have always been a keen for all councils to becoming ethical care councils – I pushed Labour to do this in Lewisham. I am a strong supporter of the Human Rights Act & Children and Young People’s Rights under the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. And I would work hard to represent young people by making London a Child Friendly City. I especially want to ensure neighbourhoods are play friendly for all ages and that all teenagers in particular, who are often over-looked in recreation provision, have access to things like free community spaces for social events, free sports facilities.

I would also campaign for free train travel for all young people up until the end of College education, and for the GLA Young Londoner’s fund to support more peer campaign organisations, which have been shown to be the best way to effectively deal with the escalating knife crime.

The housing crisis

We all know the housing system is broken. One of the suggestions I made to Caroline Lucas in November 2017 was for a Private Members Bill which proposes a 5 yr suspension on the right to buy in all England’s major cities. And, as a volunteer in a Neighbourhood Forum for the past 4 years, I want to see Council land being used for 100% social rented (as in Council rent level) housing – the only real affordable housing for everyone on the housing waiting lists across London. I wish to campaign for the Just Space community-led plan for London and more community participation within the GLA.

Andrea Carey is a Green Party activist from London. Carey has stood as a local council candidate in Ladywell, Evelyn and New Cross Wards in Lewisham Deptford and has been selected for Lewisham Deptford in the next General Election.

Articles from all candidates can be found here.