Candidates
London Assembly - North East London
Caroline Allen
Caroline Allen
Caroline, 37, lives in Islington. A vet and community campaigner, she has lived in North and East London
for the past decade, living in Wanstead, Hackney and Islington. Caroline has been active in campaigns
including protecting local sports centres and green spaces, for safer streets and responsible pet ownership
and against factory farming. Caroline is the Green Parties Spokesperson on animal issues and also has
worked on science, food, animal and conservation policy.
She said: "I joined the Green Party six years ago because of my concerns about the environment and the
effect climate change and habitat loss were having on the world’s inhabitants. I realised that a political
solution is required but that none of the other parties really understood these issues”.
"I soon discovered that the Green Party offers a real viable alternative on the very serious issues that
affect people at a much more local level, from inequality and poverty thorough to our transport, food,
housing and health. Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems just don’t see how their policies are damaging our
communities and increasing inequality at every turn. None of them can see beyond a bland vision of business
of usual, which means deference to the markets which got us in this mess and a pursuit of growth at all
costs."
"What London needs are politicians who can make the link between these crucial areas – the environmental
and the social – and have a vision of a better city not dependant on dodgy high finance. The Green Party
has workable policies that will make a positive difference and a proven track record in the Assembly and
that is why I am proud to be their candidate in North East London."
London Assembly - Havering and Redbridge
Haroon Saad
Haroon Saad
Political
I grew up in a very political household. My dad was very active in the Muslim League. This was essentially
the Independence Movement, not the same as the outfit that goes by the same name in Pakistan now. If you
have read Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, then I grew up with the voices of dissent. I became
active in the Labour party and was elected as a local councillor in Bristol. I became chair of economic
and community development for 3 years. In 1999 I left Labour in disgust with Blair: already by then he was
showing his true conservative colours. The crash of 2007/8 was a wake-up call for me and I did two things.
Firstly I ran as an Independent in the 2009 European Parliament elections and directly after that joined
the Green Party, where I feel very much at home. If you follow my campaign, then you will see that I am
committed to trying to challenge and change our economic and political models which are failing us and
the planet so visibly.
Education and Work
I have to confess that I was bit of a swot and mainly enjoyed what I was offered in school. I attended one
of the first comprehensives opened in Wandsworth where I grew up. It opened the door to university. I went
into teaching, managed to get a scholarship and then went to do an M.Sc (Econ) and a PhD at Cardiff
University. I have worked in the voluntary and public sectors - my focus of work has always been about
urban issues. I currently work for Local Urban Development Network, an NGO which operates at a European
level.
Family and Fun
I am married and have three daughters. My mum, sister and brother are all living in Walthamstow. I enjoy
what I do, in this way think I am lucky but I also DJ occasionally for fun and love reading, walking,
running and cycling. Of course I also like to find the sun and put my feet up with a good glass of wine.