Shirin Georgiani is hoping to prevent the Conservatives from gaining a full working majority at Wandsworth Council following the resignation of former Trinity councillor Lizzy Dobres last month.
The Labour Party candidate for the by-election told Putney.news that only a vote for her can prevent the Conservative administration from continuing to pursue its programme of “cruel cuts”.
Shirin Georgiani accused the Conservatives of “misleading residents” by “pretending the council has run out of money” as an attempt to justify “bringing back austerity” and instantly pinpointed the new Cabinet’s cost-cutting announcements with regard to “domestic abuse services, the youth bus and hundreds of planned council homes.”
She also accused the new administration of deliberately reversing the achievements and success of the previous Labour-run council, arguing the Tories inherited a “council with the lowest council tax in the country, the highest reserves of any neighbouring borough, and no external debt.”
“Residents have told me they are pleased with the improvements made in the past 4 years under Wandsworth Labour, including fixing pavements and roads quickly, the introduction of food waste recycling, the new bridge lighting by Balham station, refurbishing public spaces such as our libraries, visible investment in community safety and being a compassionate borough of sanctuary”, she explained.
“This is what Labour achieved in 4 years, and we were just getting started. The Conservatives are trying to roll this progress back.”
With polling day looming, the by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour deputy leader and Trinity councillor Lizzy Dobres, who stood down to take up a new “politically restricted” job.
That has left the political balance of the council on a knife-edge, with 29 councillors representing the Conservatives and 27 representing Labour. Independent Malcolm Grimston is currently the kingmaker and allows the Conservatives to govern under certain conditions via his Confidence and Supply agreement.
Warning voters not to give the Conservatives “full control of the Council”, Shirin is firm in her belief that Trinity “deserves a councillor who understands local concerns and will work hard to improve their area.”
Continuing to cite the achievements of the past Labour administration, encompassing how “Labour made our local streets cleaner and safer” and “protected the vulnerable during a cost of living crisis”, Shirin is bidding to become Trinity’s third Labour representative since the ward’s formation in 2022.
Having run to be a councillor in the Wandsworth Town ward at the May local elections, Shirin promises to give residents “the best chance in life, whatever their background.”
“It’s working with housing associations to provide essential services for our residents, advocating for investment in our play spaces, sponsoring community groups, standing up for nature and sustainable practices, working with the neighbourhood police team to tackle ASB, and working with council officers to fix problems with traffic outside schools”, she detailed.
“Trinity residents will have in me a councillor who cares about improving the lives of all. Retaining a Labour councillor in Trinity is essential to protecting all the improvements made in the past four years.”
Deep roots in the area
Born and raised in London in the 1980s and 90s, Shirin says she has been connected to Tooting for most of her life.
“My grandparents lived here for decades and now so does my family, with my son going to school in the neighbourhood and my husband having taught at a Balham school for many years,” she revealed.
After her parents came to the UK after the Iranian revolution, Shirin spent her formative years living in a “politically aware household” that shaped a strong belief in “the role of the state, what it should take care of and be responsible for,” as well as the importance and values of “strong, diverse communities” and treating others “with care and respect.”
This ignited an early political conviction, instinct and activism that Shirin hopes will culminate in being elected to public office.
“From this was born a conviction that actions matter beyond words,” she said, before elaborating on a long record of community involvement: “Whether it was creating petitions in Year 6 against fox hunting and saving tigers in the wild, becoming a member of the Youth Parliament at 16 representing my peers across the borough, campaigning at the Citizens Advice Bureau, teaching refugee women how to manage household finances, or helping public authorities deliver value for money services for residents in my day job, I have always strived to help others and the communities I’m part of.”
A strong believer in “social justice and fairness and giving a voice to those who need it,” Shirn outlines her philosophy:
“I believe everyone should have a dignified life, with safe, decent housing, access to clean, green spaces, quality healthcare, and fair work and opportunities, all of which shouldn’t be compromised because of where people come from or where they live.”
The Trinity by-election takes place on 27 August. You can read our interviews with Green candidate Sylvain Magne, and Lib Dem candidate Dylan Henderson. We have offered interview to all candidates in the by-election.
I nearly choked on my coffee when I read that an 11-year-old from Iran had the sheer effrontery to try to interfere with an English custom (fox-hunting) about which, by definition, she could know nothing.
The legacy of a Labour controlled council speaks for itself. Freezing council tax when patently that was unaffordable is leading to a massive hike to balance the books. And did I mention the traffic in Putney…? Enough said.
If there was thumbs up or ‘like’ I would use it for the two previous comments.
I have asked for that before because I think it encourages reader participation. Is it more difficult than the Council Tax widget in the first article today ?