31st July 2015
In May 2016 Londoners will decide who to elect as the next Mayor of London. The Muslim Council of Britain encourages Muslims in London to participate in candidate selections from all the political parties.
The Mayor of London has a crucial role that affects the lives of all Londoners and controls key policies including housing, transport, education and policing.
It is vital that London’s Muslims play a full role in British political life and engage with others on issues that are of concern to all of us. This is an opportunity for meaningful political participation, and a chance for the Muslim community to select a candidate who will be elected to represent and work hard for all the communities in London.
By registering to vote in these open primaries, Londoners will have the opportunity to choose the candidate who will run for City Hall come May 2016. As this is an open primary, you do not need to be a political party member to have a vote.
The Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Dr Shuja Shafi said: “The Mayor of London plays a crucial role in making sure we can fight issues such as inequality, Islamophobia and the housing crisis in our capital. It is important that all Muslims throughout London actively participate in these primaries so that the best candidates are selected and the best Mayor of London is elected to benefit not only the Muslim community but all the people of London.”
The current candidates who are campaigning for selection are: (in alphabetical order)
Labour Party
Diane Abbott MP, Dame Tessa Jowell DBE, Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Gareth Thomas MP and Christian Wolmar.
To register to vote, sign up with this form or text Labour to 78555. There is a one-off cost of £3. Londoners who are full-time students or aged between 14 and 27 can join the Party as a member for £1 and this will register you for a vote using this form.
The deadline for registration is 12pm on 12 August 2015
Conservative Party
Andrew Boff, Stephen Greenhalgh, Zac Goldsmith MP, Syed Kamall MEP, and campaigning for selection. To register to find out how to vote sign up with this form.
Liberal Democrats
Duwayne Brooks OBE, Brian Haley, Teena Lashmore, Caroline Pidgeon, Marisha Ray, Paul Reynolds.
Green Party
Sian Berry, Tom Chance, Caroline Russell
[ends]
Notes to Editors:
The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over
500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques,
charities and schools.
For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk
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