We need a new hope for Huntingdon, St Ives, our towns, villages and hamlets.
“But don’t just hope for a better future - vote for one.”
I have the lived experience, local government background and policy knowledge to be a pragmatic, principled and passionate Labour MP for Huntingdon.
I was a non-voter when I arrived in the UK, despite having the right to vote in local elections as an EU citizen. It was my lived experience as a young person struggling with insecure jobs, expensive private rents and navigating the UK immigration system that politicised me in my early 20s.
My route into formal politics was through grassroots campaigning for the rights of some of the most disadvantaged communities. I co-founded a migrants’ rights and democratic reform organisation where I currently work. I also work on research projects and have a PhD in Political Sociology. Working for the last 7 years in the UK not-for-profit sector taught me how to run successful campaigns and bring people and stakeholder coalitions together asking for difficult and long-term change. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll be honest, take time to listen and research the issue, and then always get back to you. We had enough career politicians and we need more honesty and pragmatism in politics.
Huntingdon is my one and only choice - it’s not my attempt at securing a “safe seat”. I am buying my first home here, put down roots here and most of all, love living here
I stood for election for the first time in 2021 and became the first British-Romanian County Councillor. I have served on Cambridgeshire County Council for over 3 years now alongside my work. I canvassed my ward all year round (not only at election time!) as well as supporting colleagues across the East of England, such as in Stevenage, Peterborough, Ipswich and the recent by-elections. I may not be able to solve every issue, but I am present and responsive as a local councillor and this is how I’ll be as an MP.
The Huntingdon constituency is within the Cambridgeshire County Council boundaries and I was familiar with local issues before I applied to be your parliamentary candidate. I live in Huntingdon, I love spending time in St Ives (especially walking by the Great Ouse), our County Council where I attend meetings is in Alconbury and I visited all our villages before the election was called.
As a member of the Children and Young People Committee, I speak with residents about SEND provision in schools. As the Vice-Chair of the Communities Committee, I work with local libraries and community projects. As the Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough regional ESOL partnership, I work closely with migrant communities, for instance speaking at the Cambridge Regional College Huntingdon Campus on supporting migrants and refugees with English. These are just some examples of the work I have already done in the constituency before I even applied to be a candidate. .