Jo Blackman

I live locally with my husband and two young children and I am an active member of the community - leading local campaigns to improve play provision and green spaces. I have also raised thousands of pounds for my daughters’ school and set up a local children’s nature club. I understand and share many of the concerns we’ve been hearing on the doorstep about rising crime, road safety, pollution, the housing crisis, worsening inequality, Brexit and the impact of cuts imposed by the Tory government. Along with fellow Labour candidates, Paul Donovan and Daniel Morgan-Thomas, I’ve been campaigning on issues like reversing cuts to the policing budget, reinstating the old W12 bus timetable, and introducing 20mph speed limits on residential roads. My professional career has been spent campaigning at a national, European and international level for children’s rights, the environment and for the Labour Party. I would like to bring this knowledge of how to affect change to my role as a councillor, championing the needs of children, the environment and the local services that our communities rely on, and generally supporting all of our residents. I hope I will have the opportunity to represent Wanstead Village as a councillor and work with local residents to make a difference.