Lee Jasper, former race advisor to Ken Livingstone, has entered the race to become the next MP for Croydon North.
Brixton-based Jasper, who is the vice chair of the Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group (CPCG), will stand for the Respect party at the upcoming by-election, expected to take place on November 29.
Although the Labour party has not yet selected its own candidate, a shortlist of five includes Lambeth council leader Steve Reed and London Assembly member Val Shawcross. The by-election was triggered by the death of veteran Labour MP Malcolm Wickes in September.
Jasper took to Twitter yesterday to announce his selection, saying:”I am delighted to have been selected now lets roll up our sleeves & do the work. No more talk, time for action?”
The community activist was forced to resign from his position as chair of Brixton Splash in July after threatening to name and shame businesses who would not give money to the annual Brixton festival.
Speaking on a video on Youtube Respect party leader George Galloway said of his candidate: “He’ll be cycling up from Lambeth just a few miles away from Croydon. He is a charismatic, powerful figure, a figure who knows how to pull the levers of the government.”
Andy Stranack has been chosen as the Conservative candidate, and Marisha Ray for the Liberal Democrats.
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