Lee Jasper
Lee Jasper, former policy adviser to Ken Livingstone, has been selected as Respect’s candidate for the Croydon North by-election.
The race relations campaigner is currently chairman of the London Race and Criminal Justice Consortium.
He said: “I am delighted to be the Respect candidate.
“Following George’s [George Galloway] amazing victory in Bradford West I welcome the opportunity to offer the people of Croydon North a viable alternative to the tired and failed politics of the mainstream political parties.”
The by-election follows the death of Labour MP Malcolm Wicks, 65, who had served the constituency since 1997.
Jasper said: “The responsibility for the economic crisis lies with banks and not the people of Croydon North and yet they are seeing their services cut and the welfare reforms are causing real hardship and acute distress.”
Jasper said he will focus on speaking out for the poor, elderly and vulnerable.
The Green Party has announced that Sasha Khan, a community campaigner, will campaign for them in the by-election.
Khan told EastLondonLines: “I think people have lost faith in the established Westminster political parties. The ongoing MPs expenses scandal has made the public question the motivation of politicians, are they interested in serving their constituents or serving themselves.” Khan said as a local campaigner he is in politics to serve the local community and not ignore it.
Marisha Ray will be standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate.
Ray, a former IT professional said: “I would like to pay tribute to Malcolm Wicks who was a tireless advocate for people in Croydon North.
“His sad death offers the voters the opportunity to choose a champion who will continue Malcolm’s great work of putting Croydon residents first.”
Conservatives have named Andy Stranack as their candidate. Born in Croydon, Stranack said: “I am passionate about Croydon and its wonderful, diverse communities and I know that by working together we can make the area an even better place to live and work.”
Labour will select its candidate from a shortlist of five this weekend. Current contenders include: Simon Burgess, Faz Hakim, Steve Reed, Val Shawcross and Louisa Woodley.
The Croydon North by-election is likely to take place on November 29.
TonyN: 
Chris Mayhew:
Kevin
October 31, 2012 at 6:49 pm
I think you’ll find that the “London Race and Criminal Justice Consortium” mentioned in this article doesn’t exist. It’s a figment of Mr Jasper’s imagination.
whitevanmanlondon
November 12, 2012 at 6:55 am
Yes Kevin you are correct. It is Jasper and a n other who are also the only members of BARAC, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts. Geddit? The man is a joke as is Galloway and Respect. It seems they had about eighty people for the launch at a night club most of whom weren’t locals. It will be interesting to see if Richard Edmonds of the NF manages to beat him.