Nub News recently sat down with Sara Gezdari, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Richmond Park and North Kingston.

We had the opportunity to speak to Sara and find out more about her life, why she wants to run for parliament and what she thinks about local and national issues.

Sara has lived in Richmond for over ten years and is a single mother to two children - Eduardo who is 11 and Sofia who is almost two,

She grew up in Italy, after fleeing Albania during the civil war in 1997.

After she fled Albania she spent time living in foster care in Italy until her Mother and Brother were able to join her.

When she isn't campaigning she enjoys walking, classical music and sports.

Sara moved to the UK along with her ex-husband - they set up the Investment Fund together and Sara worked in finance. She will be stepping down from this to concentrate on her campaign.

Sara said: "I studied International Politics at the University of Bolognia and never really pursued it as a career because I came from a challenging background and I had to work hard. 

"I want to be as involved and as visible in the community as possible and listen to the residents during my campaign.

"I think the main reason I want to run is for the residents - I've been listening to residents concerns about having a strong voice representing them in the House of Commons, someone who values their voices and works hard." 

"But also, Richmond Park has given myself and my children a home and its time for me to give back.

"Because of my past, democracy and freedom is something quite personal to me so I will always stand up for people who want to build a better life and a strong community for themselves" 

Sara told Nub News that some of the issues she is most concerned about in Richmond include rising numbers of crime, anti social behaviour, green spaces and how to protect them, road works and potholes and traffic and local businesses."

She said: "These are the issues that residents have been speaking to me about.

"My priority is what matters to Richmond residents – make streets safer, champion education, boost local businesses, improve our transport links but most of all listen to the residents.

"We have forgotten how to listen to the residents" 

Sara could not speak more positively of her time living in Richmond - when asked for her favourite things about Richmond she said: "I love everything about Richmond, I am madly in love with this constituency. 

"I have been lucky enough to live in different areas and experience different areas of Richmond from Ham House, to Kew Gardens, to Richmond Hill to Barnes where I live today" 

"What is there not to love about Richmond?" 

After discussing Sara's favourite places in Richmond we moved on to discussing a plethera of local issues including Hammersmith Bridge, The Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme and the NHS.

Hammersmith Bridge:

Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to traffic since 2020 because of concerns about cracking in the infrastructure.

Sara said: "I live in Barnes and Hammersmith Bridge affects my day to day life massively.

"I have met with the Secretary of state for transport and i have delivered the questions from the SOS Hammersmith Bridge steering group. 

"It should be about people, not politics because ultimately people need to go to work, to doctors' appointments, to hospitals and is affecting their lives.

"The Mayor of London says it's not in his remit to do it but I wonder how many months of the paying fee of ULEZ could be used to cover the missing costs of the repairs of the bridge? 

She added: "It has to be sorted and there has to be mobility from one side of the bridge to the other." 

Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme:

In terms of the TDRA scheme (explainer here) Sara said that she is completely against the proposals.

She said: "I am completely against it – we have not been offered an alternative or another choice it. 

"I think it'll have a huge impact on biodiversity and nature in ham and petersham. 

"I want local people to have a seat at the table in the next consultation" 

"I want to give a people a strong voice and I want people to know I'm a local resident and its not about politics its about people – its not about me,its about everyone."

Heathrow Airport:

Sara also said that she is completely against night flights and the opening of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

She said: "I am a local resident who is directly affected, my two year old is woke up at 4:30am every day with the first flight" 

"My understanding is the government has supported the third runway as long as it is a private sector project that meets three very strict criteria that includes air quality, noise and Climate Change. I am against the third runway and night flights." 

Housing:

Housing is an issue that Sara seems to be very passionate about.

She said: ""Housing is important, young people should be able to have the opportunity to buy their own home.

"It's a national issue and we need to have the right developments in right places.

"Sadiq Khan has failed to meet his own targets on housing."

She added: "I live quite close to the stag brewery development in Mortlake and I share the concerns about the project and I want to make sure local residents have a voice on the project that will affect their lives.

"It has to be the right developments in the right places. We need affordable housing because young people should have the opportunity to own somewhere without disrupting a beautiful environment. 

"I love this place and I want Richmond Park to be the best place to be, there's something special about this place." 

Education:

In terms of education, Sara said that she is concerned about what it will mean for children in the constituency if Labour were to get in.

She said: " I care about children in Richmond and as a single mother I know what it is like to find the right solution for your child. 

"7% of children in the uk nationally attend a fee paying school but in Richmond Park 26.4% do.

"My concern is that if we end up having a labour government what will that mean for our constituency? 

"One fifth of the children here will then have to rely on state schools and how is Labour going to pay for that?

"Parents make a lot of sacrifices to give their kids the best education and a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for the parent tax."

Budget and The Cost of Living:

In terms of the recent budget and the cost of living crisis, Sara said that she was pleased to see tax cuts and childcare reforms.

She said: "We need tax cuts and things like the NI contributions is one of them.

"The opportunity for full time workers to earn £900 more is absolutely fantastic.

"There is more to do of course and the government will be working on it but for people in Richmond at the moment it means an extra £900.

"The childcare reform is the biggest reform on childcare ever and it is something we should be extremely proud of."