Camden New Journal - News: Lib Dems pick black candidate

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Camden New Journal - By RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 24 January 2008

Lib Dem candidate Nancy Jirira

Lib Dems pick black candidate

AN NHS worker is in line to become the Liberal Democrats’ first black councillor in Camden.
Nancy Jirira will stand for the party in the Fortune Green by-election triggered by the death of Councillor Jane Schopflin last month.
The ward is regarded as a Lib Dem fortress and it would take a surprise result for the seat to fall out of their hands on February 21.
Privately, some members are said to have noticed how their ranks, which swelled at the time of the party’s election success in May 2006, are dominated by white men in their 20s and 30s.
Of the party’s 22 seats on the council, one is held by a councillor from an ethnic minority. Only four Lib Dem councillors are women.
Ms Jirira was born in Zimbabwe but has lived in West Hampstead since 1974. She kick-started her campaign by pledging to fight for post offices earmarked for possible closure.
Lib Dem deputy leader Councillor Flick Rea said of the party’s candidate: “She is not another white man in a suit. She has a wonderful approach with people.”
The Conservatives, coalition partners of the Lib Dems at the Town Hall, are best placed to cause a by-election upset. Candidate Heather Downham, unveiled on Monday, faces an uphill battle but she trimmed the Lib Dem majority to below 500 votes at the 2006 election. She is a member of Hillfield Road Residents Association and a governor at Beckford School.
“I will be campaigning on issues that matter most to local people, including keeping West Hampstead police station open, the threat of post office closures, protecting Gondar Gardens reservoir, improving the C11 and other bus routes, and better policing of Shoot Up Hill,” she said.
Labour and the Greens have yet to announce their election candidates.

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