Soho resident Tim Barnes is standing for the Conservatives in the West End ward by-election on Thursday, 19 September. Tim shared his Diary of a By-Election Candidate with us. Tim explains
"We're back with Diary of a Candidate with me here in the West End.
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.
Thousands of local people, along with business owners and tourists, have been calling for the licensing of pedicabs to tackle the rogue operators whose loud noises cause irritation and whose rip-off fares penalise Londoners and visitors alike. Former MP Nickie Aiken delivered the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 earlier this year, which gave Transport for London the power to finally regulate pedicabs. We call on the Mayor of London to implement the licensing policy here.
Former MP for the Cities of London & Westminster, Nickie Aiken, supported by thousands of local people, led a long-running campaign to bring in the licensing of pedicabs.
Earlier this year, the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 became law.
Despite reassurances from the Labour-led Council, dockless bikes continue to block many streets and pavements across the city.
The council has introduced new parking spaces for dockless bikes and e-scooters last year, but it is clear the scheme is not working.
Cllr Paul Swaddle is Leader of the Conservative Group at Westminster City Council. Paul believes that elected MPs for different parts of the country should not remain as Councillors here in Westminster, and should not claim councillor allowances alongside their MP salaries of over £90,000 a year.
Local people, school children, workers and visitors should not have to tolerate seeing tents build up on our streets.
We regularly receive reports of drug use, drug dealing and defecation on the streets near homeless tents, alongside local people being verbally abused by some of those begging.
Local residents have been telling us about the issue of speeding cyclists on the Outer Circle of Regent's Park. Many are concerned that it is increasingly difficult to safely cross the road, and about the lack of crossing points.
Cllr Paul Swaddle said
“I have met with the Royal Park and oth
