Reports have come out that Dr Onkar Sahota, Labour Assembly Member (AM) for Ealing and Hillingdon since 2012, has not been selected for the shortlist of who will run for election in May 2024 Mayoral and London Assembly elections.
According to The Standard: “the party has decided not to include Dr Sahota on its shortlist of candidates for the constituency”.
Dr Sahota, who has not publicly commented on the report, currently serves as Deputy Chair of the London Assembly and was previously the Chair of the London Assembly 2023 to 2023.
In September 2023, it was reported that Dr Sahota had faced backlash from some Labour party members over his support for the introduction of ULEZ.
He told The Standard: “I believe I have conscientiously served my constituents. I have done something which I consciously believe in, and which I believe is in the interests of Londoners. I believe history will show it’s the right decision, and that I have done the best thing for the majority of my constituents.”
Currently two Ealing Labour councillors who also serve on the Ealing Council cabinet are on the shortlist – Jasbir Anand and Bassam Mahfouz.
Councillor Anand serves as cabinet member for tackling inequality while Councillor Mahfouz is cabinet member for safe and genuinely affordable homes.
A final vote on who will be selected to represent Labour is set to take place in in December.