WESTMINSTER City Council is scheduled for a by-election next Thursday following the death of Labour councillor Gillian Arrindell (above) in November.

She was elected as Labour’s first councillor for Vincent Square ward in 2022 and served on a number of committees and as lead member for air quality and disability champion.

Polling stations will be open on February 27 between 7am and 10pm at Millbank Gardens Primary Academy, Hide Tower Hall and at Westminster Cathedral Hall.

JOANNA DIANA CAMADOO-ROTHWELL, Labour Party

Joanna Diana Camadoo-Rothwell is a resident in Pimlico and her professional background is in policy development and tackling violence against women and girls.

She is the head of public affairs and policy at a national domestic abuse charity and previously served two terms as a councillor in Ealing.

She was the scrutiny chair for the council’s policy on violence against women and girls and then cabinet member for community safety.

She says her priorities for the ward will be to work with the city council to introduce measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and increase women’s safety, improve housing repair services in the area and stand up for private renters dealing with rogue landlords.

GABRIELA FAJARDO, Christian Peoples Alliance

Pastor Gabriela Fajardo is part of the Fe Que Liberta ministry in the area.

She is standing on a platform of freedom of speech and the rights of Christians, according to her party.

She has promised to hire more community wardens and improve NHS services with regards to their resources and improve the duty the National Health Service provides in relation to GP surgeries.

An online statement read: “Also if I were elected I would empower with protection using various strategies the church outreach activities and events which the area will benefit immensely because they can offer wise counsel and befriending services which would create a more lively and healthier community.”

LUIS GARCIA, Liberal Democrats

Luis Garcia has a background in business management and finance and wants to bring those same skills to address the issues affecting residents in Vincent Square, according to an online statement. He was born in Lancaster to Spanish parents and grew up travelling between the UK and Spain.

He moved to London in his teenage years and says he wants to continue to make London “one of the best cities in the world”. He sees anti-social behaviour, increased street crime and a growing homelessness crisis as issues facing Vincent Square residents. He has promised to collaborate with police, residents, and local organisations to create safer streets, advocating for housing-first policies and mental health support to tackle homelessness and strengthening community spirit through arts, sports, and cultural initiatives.

PATRICK MARTIN HAYES, Conservative Party

Martin Hayes was born in the old Westminster Hospital on Horseferry Road and has lived locally all his life.

According to The City of Westminster Conservative Group’s website, Martin is a publican and entrepreneur and owner of CASK Pub and Kitchen on Charlwood Street as well as the London-wide pub group The Craft Beer Co.

Martin said he feels privileged to have grown up and established a business in Westminster and “I would like to give back and serve the local community to help ensure our neighbourhood remains a vibrant and safe place to live, work and raise a family’.

NICK LOCKETT, Reform UK

According to an online statement, Nick moved to London over 30 years ago and lives in Westminster with his wife and dog Chewey.

His professional background is in finance and law and he has worked as a barrister and a solicitor-advocate.

He runs a firm of solicitors and is a trustee and founder of a computer charity that helps underprivileged children to learn computer skills. He has been an educational adviser and has been involved in legal cases involving housing, homelessness, and violence against women.

He has also been a prosecutor for the CPS and prosecuted drug dealers and criminals. He lives locally and accused previous administrations of failing to tackle the issue of homelessness, crime and drugs in Westminster City.

SANYA MIHAYLOVIC, Green Party

Sanya Mihaylovic says she is a proud Londoner, filmmaker, lecturer, and a passionate activist campaigning for peace, democracy, equality, and dignity. She says she has lived in Westminster for many years.

Sanya says she would push for Thames Water and sewage dump monitoring, with live updates and simplified reports available online for public scrutiny. She wants constant air pollution monitoring near construction sites and pollution hotspots and promises to hold weekly in-person surgeries. She says with 46 per cent of Vincent Square properties at risk of flooding, “urgent action must be taken to combat the climate emergency at both local and global levels”. She received a distinction for her masters from London Metropolitan University in 2009 and has also studied in North Macedonia.