Who is Standing in the Battersea Constituency?
Five candidates contesting the seat won by Labour last time out
November 19, 2019
Battersea is undergoing major development at the moment, and there is a stark contrast in the borough between the wealthiest and poorest areas.
In the last election Labour gained the seat from the Conservatives in a 10 per cent swing, but it’s all still to play for.
Battersea overwhelmingly voted to remain with 77.95 per cent wanting to stay in during the 2016 EU referendum, and Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens are all strongly in favour of stopping Brexit. But will they split the vote and allow the Conservatives to take the seat back?
The nominations are now closed and five candidates will be contesting the constituency.
Marsha de Cordova, Labour
Marsha de Cordova became the MP for Battersea in 2017 and is the Shadow Minister for Disabled People.
She previously worked in the charity sector campaigning on social security, and is a trade unionist and a member of Unite the Union, where she represented disabled workers on the London and Eastern Regional Committee and the National Disabled Members Committee.
She is campaigning for a final say on Brexit and to remain in the EU, as well as a Green New Deal, genuinely affordable homes in Battersea, tackling youth violence through a fully funded National Youth Service, more police on the streets, and to end the privatisation of the NHS.
Jake Thomas, Brexit Party
Jake Thomas of the Brexit Party posted a vidoe on Twitter on being nominated as their candidate saying, "Quite a sad day really to tell the truth, never thought we’d ever get to this point but, you know, we need to bring the good fight to the people and end this madness."
Kim Caddy, Conservative
Kim Caddy is a councillor in Southfields and Cabinet Member for Housing at Wandsworth Council. She is also a school governor and trustee for a local charity.
Previously she worked in the engineering and healthcare sectors, and is a qualified chartered accountant.
She is campaigning to tackle homelessness by building new homes for low and average earners on council land, protecting existing bus routes and campaigning for more trains from Battersea Park Station. She also backs supporting plastic-free initiatives and community clean-ups, improving broadband connection and increasing police presence on local neighbourhood streets.
Mark Gitsham, Liberal Democrat
Mark Gitsham moved to London in 2011, and spent a number of years living and working in Europe, in Ireland, Greece and Cyprus.
He works as a manager in the events industry, and even worked on the organising committee for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Before that he worked as a consultant supporting homeless people and young offenders.
He is fighting to stop Brexit, to tackle the climate emergency, build enough high quality council housing, a joined up policy against knife crime, and improve funding for schools, the NHS and mental health.
Lois Davis, Green
Lois Davis has lived in Battersea for more than 20 years and is a member of the Battersea Society.
She is now semi-retired, after a career as a documentary film maker and academic, but still teaches English as a foreign language.
She is also a campaigner for Living Streets, to ensure safer streets for breathing, walking and cycling, and Clapham Junction Action Group, challenging property developers and defending local housing needs.
She is campaigning for a People’s Vote and the importance of remaining in Europe to deal with the Climate Emergency, for freedom of movement and for a real end to austerity.
The general election is due to take place on 12 December.