Five candidates will compete for the London Assembly election in Merton and Wandsworth on May 2.
Here’s a brief introduction to those running and the issues that matter to their parties.
Ellie Cox – Conservative and Unionist Party
Wimbledon resident Ellie Cox is the Conservative London Assembly candidate for Merton and Wandsworth.
She works in finance and in 2022 was elected as a councillor for the Lower Morden Ward.
She is also a City Hall spokeswoman.
Cox said: “We need suitable and reasonably priced housing, enabling people from London to live and work here.
“We must make homeownership a reality for Londoners.”
Cox also proposes a Pollution Hotspots Fund to fund and tackle poor air quality.
Leonie Alison Cooper – Labour and Co-operative Party
Cooper has represented Merton and Wandsworth at the London Assembly since May 2016 and been a Wandsworth councillor since 2006.
She chaired the London Assemblies Environment Committee from 2016 until 2018 where they produced reports on single-use plastic bottle waste, fuel poverty and maintaining London’s parks.
In 2024 she said of Sadiq Khan’s budget: “This budget will make a real and noticeable difference to Londoners, from proper funding for the Metropolitan Police, free school meals for every primary school child, cleaner air in schools, building quality new homes, insulating older ones and freezing TfL fares.
“I was proud to vote in favour of these progressive policies which will improve life for Londoners.”
Pippa Maslin – Green Party
A secondary school teacher for 13 years and Mordon resident, Maslin is the Green Party London Assembly Candidate.
She was also the Mitcham and Morden candidate during the 2019 General Election.
The Green Party’s London manifesto includes their wishes to develop the current climate budget.
The manifesto also references working towards one single, low fare for all public transport journeys in London and an immediate freeze bus fares.
Sue Wixley – Liberal Democrats
Southfields resident Wixley is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the London Assembly.
She helped to set up the Recycle More Southfields initiative and works at an environmental charity.
Wixley has spent 27 years working in the voluntary sector.
Her key priorities are to rebuild the Met police and stop sewage dumping in London rivers as well as saving Wimbledon Park and introducing a ‘London passport’ for EU citizens to prove their right to remain.
Tania Marszalek – Reform UK
Marszalek is the Reform UK candidate for the Merton and Wandsworth constituency at the London Assembly election.
Reform UK wants to scrap ULEZ and LTNs, as well as increasing police visibility.
The party’s manifesto also states it wants to increase housing prospects particularly for young and low-income families.
Its manifesto also claims the party wishes to incentivise drivers and internal combustion engine users to adopt clean fuel technology without using what it calls cash-grabbing policies.
Read more about the candidates’ opinions on environmental issues here.
For more coverage of the Mayoral and Assembly elections make sure to follow South West Londoner.
Featured image by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
