Local Conservatives have selected Tim Barnes - Soho resident, former councillor, cabinet member and parliamentary candidate - to be their candidate for Westminster's West End by-election. Tim explains
"On Thursday 19 September, there will be a by-election here in the West End ward of Westminster following the resignation of one of the Labour councillors, and I will be standing as the Conservative candidate.
"I live here in Soho. I've been a former councillor and cabinet member, and I believe I have the experience, the time and the know-how, and the sense of place in order to do a great job as a councillor back on Westminster City Council because Labour has been failing since they took charge of the Council.
"They have failed to deliver pedicabs, and the regulation that was put in place by the Conservatives has not actually been followed through by the Mayor of London. The councillors here have not put the pressure on him to do so.
"They failed on the management of e-bikes. They've failed to ensure that the rubbish continues to be collected on a regular basis that is needed.
"They've failed on issues of crime, they failed on issues of public lighting and all sorts of prevention and public order issues.
"And it's about time that we have somebody back on Westminster City Council who would criticise them for doing that when it's needed, support them when it's needed, but to bring the change that local people here in the West End really need to see if we want to improve the lives of communities.
"I'm absolutely convinced we can have a positive campaign, bring about a positive series of changes for the people who, like me, live here in the West End, and I look forward to doing that in the future and to the campaign over the next month."
