Last night (11 June), Richmond Park MP candidates addressed residents at Grey Court School, in the first hustings of this campaign ahead of the election on 4 July.

The MP hopefuls in attendance: Sara Gezdari (Conservative Party), Chas Warlow ​(Green Party), Laura Coryton (Labour Party) and Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrats), all gave two minute speeches to a packed audience.

Grey Court School invited the Reform UK, Social Democrat Party and Workers Party of Britain candidates to attend, but received no responses.

In their discourses, the candidates mention serving the community, taxes, NHS, housing and climate change among other priorities they will tackle if elected Richmond Park MP.

Sara Gezdari from the Conservative Party during her speech at Grey Court School hustings (credit: Cesar Medina).

Sera Gezdari - Conservative Party

Conservative candidate Sera Gezdari, a single mother with a background of fleeing Albania during the Civil War, pledged to be a strong voice for the people of Richmond Park, focusing on safety, education, green spaces, local businesses, transport and emphasising "people" over "politics."

She said: "I was born in Albania under communist regime and I fled the country in 1997 during the Civil War.

"I then moved to Italy and lived in foster camp for a couple of years before being reunited with my family. I know what it means to go without. I know what it means not to have democracy, freedom or choice.

"And I am here to make the difference because we are incredibly lucky. I am incredibly lucky as a single mother of two to live in our special Corner of London.

"And I'm going to be here to make the difference, because I believe in people because for me, this really is about people and not politics.

"That is why your priorities are my priorities and I have been listening to you and that's why I would love to make our streets safer, champion our beautiful and great education, protect our wonderful green space, boost local businesses, improve our transport links, but most of all, listen to our communities always.

"For too long, I hear on the doorstep and people talking to me, saying that they do not feel that they've got a strong representative on the green benches - we need a strong voice in Richmond Park.

"If we end up with a Labour government that will increase taxes, we need a strong opposition and that is why I am here. I want to be your local candidate. I want to be your strong voice and as a half Italian and half Albanian woman, you better believe that I do have a strong voice when needed.

"But we have so much to be thankful for already locally, but I want to make Richmond Park an even better place because as I said, for me this is about people and not politics.

"You will see from this evening from my answers that I don't do empty rhetorics. I'm not here to pay lip service for votes. With me, what you see is what you get and that is passion, commitment and consistency.

"Somebody that listens and will act on your behalf with conviction and integrity."

Chas Warlow from the Green Party during his speech at Grey Court School hustings (credit: Cesar Medina).

Chas Warlow - Green Party

Green Party candidate, Chas Warlow, explained the need for hope in addressing crises like climate change, cost of living, housing, and NHS waiting lists, promising solutions for clean air, affordable housing, and better social support through "modest" taxation of the rich.

He said: "I was a parent governor here and my kids went to this school. So big question, why vote Green In this election? I think the best answer for that is hope.

"I think we all need some real hope at the moment as a climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, housing crisis, NHS waiting list crisis.

"All of these things are things that really make us need a hopeful vision and the Green Party has that hopeful vision.

"Younger people are looking at a bleak future with unaffordable housing and the Green Party is here because we are prepared to look squarely at the face of these problems.

"From climate change through to nature depletion through to unaffordable housing and the cost of living crisis and we are not doom mongers we have positive solutions.

"We can make a difference if you want us to do that, you can give us that chance. We are in favour of clean air, clean water, better and more affordable housing, better funded NHS, more help for vulnerable people in our society.

"That's the basis of the pledges that we're making to you and if you're thinking, some people might do, that where are we going to get all the money from to make all of these pledges work?

"Well, we live in a very unequal society. Just a very modest tax on the very wealthiest people in our society would provide the funding for the programme that we so desperately need to take things forward, and the alternative just doesn't bare thinking about.

"So when you enter the polling booth on July the 4th, please, think about the future, think about home, think about change."

Laura Coryton from the Labour Party during her speech at Grey Court School hustings (credit: Cesar Medina).

Laura Coryton - Labour Party

Labour candidate Laura Coryton, argued the need to address challenges like homelessness, unaffordable housing, pollution, and NHS waiting lists.

She also urged voters to choose Labour for strong healthcare, mental health services, and free school breakfast programmes - advocating for the end of Conservative and Liberal Democrat rule in Richmond.

Coryton said: "London has always been my home for over 10 years now and I absolutely love this city. However, we face a lot of real challenges I'm sure many of you will have experienced, unfortunately.

"Under a Conservative party rule and a local Liberal Democrat MP in Richmond alone, we've seen skyrocketing homelessness and poverty, we've seen young people in this area who've grown up here and have their families here, have to move out because they can't afford their first home.

"We've seen Thames Water polluting our beloved river and not being held to account and we've had skyrocketing waiting lists in the NHS. We can do better than this, and you deserve better.

"Labour will turn the page and end the chaos that we've seen under the Conservative Party.

"Now, let's be honest, of course, the Conservatives seem to be be heading towards a loss in this election, and even in pollings if you are to believe the polls, the local Conservative candidate here is likely to win about 20 to 23% of the vote.

"In previous elections you might have thought that you might have to vote tactically. Either you have to vote for the Lib Dems, or you have to vote for Conservatives, but the Conservatives are no longer a threat here.

"So in this election for the first time, just vote for what you believe. If you believe in a strong NHS, If you believe in bringing back family doctors, If you believe in strong mental health fields in all communities and schools, If you believe in free breakfast clubs for all primary school kids so that no young child has to start their day at school hungry, then vote Labour.

"These are all really clear Labour Party policies that I would be honoured to champion in Parliament.

"I'm your Labour Party candidate and I'm really looking forward to hearing your questions and hopefully answering them as best as I can. So vote for change, vote Labour."

Sarah Olney from the Liberal Democrat party during her speech at Grey Court School hustings (credit: Cesar Medina).

Sarah Olney - Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney, campaigns for addressing local issues such as Thames Water's proposed pipeline, Hammersmith Bridge, crime reduction, while highlighting the party's role in pushing for a windfall tax, fixing the national sewage crisis, and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

She asked Richmond Park voters to choose a Liberal Democrat if they want a candidate to hold the new government accountable.

Olney said: "I've served Richmond Park for the last four and a half years and what an extraordinary four and a half years it's been.

"Very soon after I was elected in December 2019 of course we all went into lockdown for the pandemic and that obviously took a long time to resolve.

"But it has been the most incredible privilege to represent Richmond Park during that time, to see how the community really came together, see how people looked after each other, to see how people really went that extra mile for their neighbours.

"Since I've been elected as your MP, I've worked really, really hard on some of the local issues that I know from talking to so many local people in that time have been uppermost in people's minds.

"I've been fighting against Thames Waters, plans to run a pipeline across Ham lands. I've been fighting the the Labour mayor and the Tory government to get Hammersmith Bridge back open.

"I've been fighting for a new police station in Richmond because I know from speaking to people of all generations that crime and anti social behaviour are one of the biggest issues uppermost in people's minds in this area.

"In Westminster, I've been proudly part of the parliamentary party of the Liberal Democrats. We were the first to call for a windfall tax on the oil and gas companies.

"We were the first to bring the national sewage crisis to public attention. We were the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. We have been on the front foot of all of these issues. 

"Often people say to me, well, you know, what's the point of voting Liberal Democrat? You're not going form the next government, but I think it can be seen that we can really start to push the conversation to really reflect what it is that people want.

"As I think Laura was trying to say, the next MP in Richmond Park is going to be either a Conservative or a Liberal Democrat unless the polls are historically wrong, there's going to be a Labour government.

"And I think the question before the people of Richmond Park is who do you want representing you in Parliament holding that new government to account?

"Do you want a Conservative MP from the party that is just going to reduce into squabbles and chaos after the general election.

"Or do you want a Liberal Democrat who can hold that government to account on climate change, on mental health and on social care."

This is just an article on the candidates speeches. More articles from the hustings will follow.

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