On 4 July 2024, the UK electorate goes to the polls to vote for who they want as their Member of Parliament.
EALING.NEWS has asked all candidates standing in the three Ealing constituencies of Ealing Central and Acton, Ealing North and Ealing Southall 7 questions about who they are, what they hope to deliver and why they want residents to vote for them.
James Windsor-Clive standing for the Conservative and Unionist Party in Ealing Central and Acton answers the 7 questions:
Tell us a bit about yourself, your priorities for the constituency and why you want to be the next member of Parliament for Ealing Central and Acton?
I was born in London and have lived here for the last 15 years, meeting my wife along the way. I started my career as a management consultant at Deloitte before going on to work at a startup that helped rehabilitate stroke and dementia patients. Dementia is an issue close to my heart as my grandmother suffered with the condition. After trying to start my own business during Covid, I now work as a researcher in parliament writing speeches, running campaigns, and researching policy.
-
Keeping our community safe. People on the doorstep mention how they no longer feel safe in their neighbourhoods. Despite an additional 3,468 police officers on the streets of London more still needs to be done to curb crime.
-
Improving access to healthcare. It pains me to hear when someone has had to wait too long for a GP, hospital, or dental appointment. Making sure we have the funding to deliver these vital services is essential.
-
Building more homes. Everyone who wants to remain in the constituency should be able to. It is important that the housing we do build is in keeping with the character of the area. Tall tower blocks are often not the answer.
What motivates you?
A love of people. Getting out there and talking to people from every coroner of society is what keeps me coming back each day. It is a real privilege to hear people’s stories and perspectives. It inspires me to improve the community we all treasure and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
The Brexit Referendum was the trigger motivation for me to get into politics. I firmly believed that staying in Europe was the best choice for our country. I regularly campaigned for Britain Stronger in Europe before latterly joining the Conservative Party.
What is your own personal connection to either Ealing Central and Acton or any other part of the borough?
The area is close to my family’s heart. My great-great-uncle, Hubert Duggan, served as the MP for Acton from 1931 to his death in 1943. He defeated the incumbent Labour MP in 1931. A feat I would very much like to emulate!
Since living in London, Ealing and Acton has been a constant feature of my life. Its vibrant scene is always a lure. I’ve enjoyed campaigning in the constituency and getting to see a different side of it over the last year.
What do you consider to be your 5 top political or personal achievements and what impact have they had?
Spearheading a campaign on pensions. I worked on creating a pensions sector that allows savers to have one pension pot rather than many. The campaign was well received by the Pensions Minister, received media coverage in the Financial Times, and garnered interest from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Founding my own business during Covid. The company was a marketplace, like Airbnb, for swimming pools and tennis courts. The platform allowed owners to monetise these underutilised assets, while allowing the local community access to new facilities. It was a whirlwind journey that ended with thousands of people signed up and hundreds of bookings.
Working on a campaign to improve access to mortgages. I organised a round table that brought together representatives from the Bank of England, mortgage providers, and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. It helped revive the idea of long term fixed mortgages in the UK to further support first time buyers onto the property ladder.
Overcoming the adversity of a life-changing eye diagnosis, which means I will eventually be legally blind. Having your life turned upside down is mentally toughening. It has strengthened my resolve to want to represent and protect those who have struggled, through no fault of their own, to get back on their feet and contribute to society.
Helping to build a business that helps dementia and stroke patients. It was incredibly rewarding to bring my expertise to a business that was using virtual reality therapy to help patients in hospitals and care homes. You could see the impact of the therapy firsthand and the business is still helping patients today.
What do you consider to be the top 5 challenges Ealing Central and Acton faces and how will you as the MP address them?
Crime and antisocial behaviour. Speaking to residents and business owners, it is clear that they are unhappy with the rising crime rates we have experienced under the current Mayor. I will campaign for more police in the area, improved community safety initiatives, and a council-run enforcement team to get on top of antisocial behaviour.
Access to healthcare services. I hear regularly about people facing longer waiting times for appointments, difficulties in accessing specialised care and pressure on mental health services. I will campaign to expand existing healthcare facilities to meet the needs of a growing population.
Housing and development. We need more housing of all types to meet the needs of people who want to live in this wonderful constituency. I will campaign for developments that maintain community character and do not put undue pressure on existing services in the development areas.
Promoting business and jobs. We need to capitalise on the economic opportunities from the improved connectivity that the Elizabeth Line brings. I will champion the business development and support programmes of the Ealing Business Improvement District, the Acton Business Improvement District and West London Chamber of Commerce to create job opportunities
Protecting our green spaces. The green spaces we have in Ealing and Acton are deeply treasured by the community. I will campaign to protect these spaces from the Council, who have set out plans to develop some of them.
What do you love about the borough of Ealing?
The people. They are very friendly and welcoming whenever I am out on the streets campaigning. They manage to foster a sense of community that it is much harder to find when you travel into inner London. The inclusivity is evident in the cultural diversity you see at local events or in the delicious eating options throughout the borough.
For me, Ealing is still ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ with its leafy green streets, rich history, community spirit and fantastic transport links to central London!
How accessible will you be to Ealing Central and Acton residents and how can they get in contact with you now and if elected how will you ensure you are accessible to them in the future?
Very! Engaging with people and helping to solve their problems is one of the main attractions of being an MP. I am very happy for people to approach me at local events I am supporting. I will also hold monthly surgeries to provide a more formal setting for people to come and talk to me.
You can get in touch with me via my Facebook page, James Windsor-Clive, or through emailing me at james@jameswindsorclive.uk
Click here for all Ealing Central and Acton candidates standing.
