WE spoke to them so you don’t have to — meet Brent and Harrow’s GLA candidates.

Anton Georgiou — Liberal Democrats

As the youngest candidate in the GLA elections, Anton Georgiou promotes progressive liberal policies but believes in representing youth in City Hall.

Mr Georgiou, 21, admits that drug legalistion is out of GLA remit but believes in the need for reform and the potential of the high profile assembly as a platform to express this.

He wants police in London to wear body cameras and called for a halt to their stop and search policy in order to build trust with young men — specifically from the BME community.

He said: “In what other walk of life can you stop someone based on the way they look, they way they walk, the way they dress, the way they talk?”

Mr Georgiou is the grandson of Cypriot refugees who were forced to flee their homes in 1974 so he is a supporter of welcoming refugees to Britain and even created an organisation towards the end of last year called Brent Refugee Action.

For him, being in the GLA is about engaging with the community and talking about issues in the area.

He said: “I don’t see politics as a career — I think it is a lifestyle.

“I think it is about devoting yourself to a cause or several causes.”

His youth does come with some pitfalls however as he still wants to avoid parental wrath.

He said: “I have just had an argument with my mum just because I have been so stressed and I just feel guilty because I want her to vote for me.”

Jafar Hassan — Green Party

Alternative voices are needed in a city where housing, transport and the environment are particularly poor says Green party politician Jafar Hassan.

The freelance writer campaigns about the inequality of rent prices in Brent and Harrow, the cost of travel from the boroughs to the city, and promotes a wider congestion charge that concentrates on busy roads

But ultimately proposes his party as the alternative to Labour.

Mr Hassan said: “We haven’t seen a lot change. We haven’t seen a lot improve.

“We have seen a continuation of actual Conservative politics.

“I think people know that but they are also afraid because of the political system.”

The Welsh Harp resident believes the new apartments being built in Wembley Park are out-pricing local residents.

“I went to primary school and secondary school in the area and I’ve got to say a lot of people I know have been forced to move further out of London because they can’t afford the rent,” he said.

“There’s definitely an opportunity here to change how the city works and ensure that we should give London back to Londoners.”

Councillor Joel Davidson — Conservative Party

Businesses and better transport are at the forefront of this GLA candidate’s policies, alongside his aim of improving on the ward’s prior assembly member.

Joel Davidson, a chartered account from Kensal Rise, has been campaigning for the last six months and believes in Brent and Harrow taking advantage of the business rates devolution.

As business rates are now devolved to local authority he wants to collect the funds and use them to rejuvenate high streets and small businesses.

He said: “I believe in the accountability towards public money.

“That is one of the major reasons I am a Conservative involved in local government.

“Labour-run local authorities do not really see the link between council tax payers and the services provided.”

The councillor supports transport improvements and focuses on upgrades to the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines as well as step-free access at Harrow-on-the-hill and Stanmore stations.

He said: “There is a tremendous opportunity to use the tools of the London Assembly.”

Councillor Navin Shah — Labour

The Labour member has been on the GLA for the last eight years and hopes to build on his prior successes in supporting the community.

Navin Shah, from Harrow, spoke of how he wanted reelecting so he could continue campaigning for lifts at Northwick Park and provide manual ramps on tube platforms for wheelchair commuters.

He called for restoring safer neighbourhood policing teams in Brent and Harrow and highlighted the importance of speaking to his community.

He said: “I will not turn down anyone that approaches me just because they are from a different area.”

Mr Shah has had previous success in bringing forward a successful motion to the GLA that introduced British sign language to all London councils.

As deputy chair of the Regeneration Committee, he wants to continue pushing the mayor so as to bring regeneration to what he says are London’s neglected outer boroughs.

Mr Shah said of Boris Johnson’s tenure as mayor:  “Quite frankly he has let down outer London.

“He said he would be a mayor for all zones but when you look at his record it has been absolutely pathetic. “

Mr Shah wants to bring a Crossrail stop to Wembley Central so as to improve transport links to Old Oak Common, Wembley Central and Harrow and Wealdstone station.

Rathy Alagaratnam — UKIP

Rathy Alagartnam has been through personal difficulties that have shaped her career and campaign that centres on helping the vulnerable.

The Merton resident became a full-time carer after her mother’s second heart attack.

In the process she came to realise how difficult it is to access services as a carer and started to champion the rights of the vulnerable.

She said: “I am a conviction politician. Because of all these issues I feel passionately.

“I feel like I am just one of the electorate. I want to make society a better place.”

Ms Alagartnam believes in bringing more community policing, pushing forward the importance of education and supporting more stop and searches by the Metropolitan Police.

She said she was against the lack of disabled access in Harrow tube stations and dismissed Mr Shah for failing to improve access in his eight years in the assembly.

Ms Alagaratnam lamented proposed plans to develop Buckingham College School into 29 flats as well as the demolishment of 282 houses in Grange Farm Estate.

Akib Mahmood – Respect

Akib Mahmood prioritises housing in a campaign that promises unique leadership.

The Dollis Hill resident only started his political career in the last two years — having previously worked as a general manager.

Mr Mahmood sees his candidacy as a chance to push forward more affordable housing in London by bringing England’s 600,000 empty homes, which are mostly in London, to the market.

He wants all new developments to be 50% affordable housing with affordable housing redefined to mean buildings that cost 50% of the average wage.

He also proposes tackling pollution by banning heavy goods vehicles from inner London during daylight hours.