Statement for Hustings at the Golden Hind

Dear Kings Hedges residents,

I am sorry I can’t be with you tonight to answer your questions. If you want to get in contact with me, please do so via email at zarina4labour@gmail.com or send post for free to Cambridge Labour at Freepost 9653, King’s Hedges Labour Party, Alex Wood Hall, Norfolk St, Cambridge, CB1 2LD. I am happy to talk to any of you and am keen to meet you all as a group or individually after the election campaign is over.

The reason I can’t make it tonight is because it is Eid, an important religious holiday for me. I initially accepted the invitation because Eid is not on a set day unlike Christmas so the change of plans has been at the very last minute. I have also taken time off from work and campaigning and hope to spend some time with my family to observe this religious holiday. I hope you can understand that the timing just doesn’t work for me, and I wish I could be there with you. I am genuinely gutted that I cannot attend as I think meeting actual residents and listening to your concerns is the most important hustings to attend. I will be attending the hustings at Cambridge 105 and speaking on BBC Cambridgeshire so please tune in to those to hear what I have to say.

That being said, I have prepared the following statement on various issues ahead of this election:

STZ & congestion Charge:

Firstly, it is key to say that no councillor you elect in this election will have a direct vote on the congestion charge. This is why I have mainly been focusing on the cost-of-living, anti-social behaviour, and my plan for King’s Hedges.
However, I do have a view on the charge. I do not support the current proposals and will not support anything that impacts the poorest in the city. I find it difficult to support as I have spoken to so many residents who are unhappy about the charge and the impact it will have on them. To me that means if anything goes ahead, we must seriously look at exemptions for residents in the city and those on low incomes, people accessing Addenbrookes and with long-term health conditions, support for shift staff and small businesses, people commuting out of the city, carers paid or unpaid, and substantially lower charges than proposed. In addition, I would find it very difficult to support any charge if significant bus improvements aren’t delivered. Please see the literature we provided at this event for more information.
The Conservatives have been misleading people by suggesting this election could change the outcome of the STZ proposals. As mentioned, City councillors do not get a direct vote on the STZ – ultimately, this will be decided at the County Council. That said, I will be campaigning on behalf of King’s Hedges residents and lobby for the changes I’ve laid out. I will be on your side and will tell it like it is.

About Me

I was born and have grown up in King’s Hedges in a local council house and have lived here all my life except for a few years due to work in the North of the country. I have an older brother with severe autism, so myself, my mum and siblings know what it is like to be unpaid carers and the lack of social care provision due to government cuts. My mother also worked in a residential home called Langdon House looking after the elderly, so I have a lot of empathy with carers. I live at home in my parent’s house as I simply cannot afford to rent or buy in Cambridge at the moment. I lost my dad during the Covid pandemic and am upset at the way the government handled it and these are the reasons that made me want to join the Labour party and help people. I am a socialist at heart and am proud of my working class roots I love this community and work for it, by delivering food parcels to local food hubs on behalf of Cambridge sustainable food and helping my mum when she cooks food for homeless charity Emmaus a few times a year. In my spare time, I also help with translating literature and messages for Afghan refugees who are in Calais. I work for the police as a Forensic Scientist and have connections in the force, this is also what I consider a public service as I would like to help people by improving community safety and helping to get dangerous people off the street. I never thought about being a politician of any kind and never thought about putting myself forward, until it was suggested that I stood as a Labour councillor. I agreed, because I saw the difference that councillors can make to a community, from our built environment to biodiversity improvements and supporting residents with their issues. I also want to bring my views from my upbringing into local politics so that we can better understand our concerns, and being brought up here and being working class helps me to show people our perspective on issues that concern us here. My parents came to the UK in the late 60’s and after living in various areas due to my father’s work in a telephone exchange and later a car parts factory, they ended up making Kings Hedges their home. These are the reasons why I am so honoured to be a candidate in King’s Hedges, where I grew up, standing up for my own friends, neighbours and community. I want to help fix issues that are bothering myself and you all as residents.

Cost-Of-Living

Tackling the cost-of-living crisis and standing up for our most vulnerable residents is hugely important to me. Following years of Tory austerity, local council funding has been systemically cut. However, local councils are important touchpoints for the community, and a lifeline for many. As a councillor, I will be writing to residents, encouraging people to reach out to me so I can help them get the support they need. I wholeheartedly support the council’s policy of turning existing buildings to provide warm spaces for residents in the winter. I will also be supporting the local food hubs and food banks, and fight to ensure they get the funding they need.

Anti-Social Behaviour & Anti-Social Driving

Living in the ward, I know we have a problem with motorbikes speeding and causing noise nuisance. We also have a problem with anti-social behaviour. My work with the police gives me experience to tackle this – it must be both a bottom up and top-down approach. Young people need more to do, and schools need resource to support young people who may be struggling. This is all work that can be done though the communities support team, and by working with the schools and bringing the community along too. However, tackling this also means working with the police and identifying the most problematic areas and ensuring that all local services are working together to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime. I would like to campaign for and work with the police to get a speed camera up on Kings Hedges Road as I feel this is one of the hotspots for anti-social driving and will improve road safety.

The Choice this Election

After many doorstep conversations and my own experience living here, I have already been reporting certain issues to council officers, and getting work done. I am determined to do right by our community and get the basics right. I believe I have the right experience to be your councillor, from living here my whole life, volunteering here, and my work with the police. I am also the only candidate communicating a clear vision and plan for our community.

Me and my team have knocked on every door this election, and most doors twice. Every time I go out, I hear residents tell me that they voted Conservative in the last election but that they are now reconsidering, because I am the only local candidate with a plan and vision for all of us. Many Conservative voters are reconsidering in light of this information, I hope you will consider voting for me and my plan this election.

As always please get in touch if you have any questions and tune in to Cambridge 105 and to hear us all discuss the local issues. We have provided some of our campaign literature to this hustings for more information.

Kind Regards and sincere apologies,
Zarina