Florence Nosegbe, who grew up in the Somerleyton estate in Brixton and whose family still live there, has been selected as Labour’s candidate to represent Lambeth and Southwark in the Greater London Assembly.
“If elected, I will push for an integrated accessible transport system, good quality affordable housing and a stronger working relationship between the police and residents,” she said.
Her political values come from personal experience, she says: “As the eldest of three girls from a single-parent family, I am a carer supporting my mother who suffers from sickle cell anaemia. I started working at the age of 16 in Sainsbury’s and had to juggle the demands of family responsibilities, education and employment from a young age.
“I am the first member of my family to go to university and have campaigned for access to good local education and additional training to ensure all young people have an opportunity achieve the best start in life.”
Nosegbe is also a Lambeth councillor, representing Brixton Hill. Her GLA candidacy was backed by local MP Chuka Umanna.
Among her council roles was Lambeth’s first “gangs tsar” or special representative for tackling youth violence. She oversaw a one-year project that brought together the council, police, health service and the community to try to find new ways to tackle the causes of violent youth crime at source.
Nosegbe works in public affairs, “leading and delivering integrated communications and community engagement in planning, development and regeneration”.
In 2008 she worked for Barack Obama’s election campaign in the key state of Ohio.
