Ese Erheriene

Ese Erheriene grew up in a working-class household in inner city London. From there she learned hard work, drive and compassion. The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, she also learned that Labour was the only party that could be relied upon. She is standing to be Woking's first Labour MP because it is a town full of hardworking people who deserve to have their voices heard in the halls of Westminster. She cares deeply about the town and its communities --- and she wants to use her experience to help address the areas where Woking has been failed by 14 years of Tory austerity, and to champion the areas where it is leading the way. Labour values have driven her throughout her career and led her to becoming a financial journalist, where she uncovered financial corruption and wrote about pro-democracy movements. As a board member for a mental health charity, she developed a peer support programme during the pandemic that supported vulnerable people and helped them find community. As a local councillor, she has a strong track record of being a voice for the voiceless. She brought ThamesWater executives before the committee to demand that the cost of their spiralling debts not be passed onto consumers. She has continually fought to resolve complex casework, ranging from meeting emergency housing needs, to supporting vulnerable residents with mobility issues, to tackling serious breaches of environmental regulations. She is currently a cabinet advisor with the portfolio of improving health inequalities for women, through which she has called on the government to launch a full statutory enquiry into maternity safety. And during the Cost of Living Crisis, Ese raised hundreds of pounds for people struggling to heat their homes by trekking to Everest Base Camp.