Q&A with Independent Candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Suzanne Moore

What made you decide to run as an Independent Candidate?

The political system is broken and there is a real mood now to change it. I realised that my vote doesn't count as we live in a "safe" Labour seat. It is equal to 0.067 of a vote elsewhere in terms of influence.  This election is focussed on Middle England marginals not places like Hackney so I wanted to stand up and make a difference. To see if democracy can work. I am disillusioned with Labour both nationally and locally. Here they just take us for granted. Being Independent is difficult but it means you listen to those who elect you, not your  political party bosses. I am fed up with the mess that our current system has produced: Iraq, the economic crisis,greater inequality.Its time for something new.

Why should people vote for you?

I am not afraid to speak my mind. I am not a career politician. I live here and my kids go to school here. I will be free to work with whoever can provide the best ideas and resources for Hackney.

What is your one biggest concern about Hackney?

Right now it's how much we are going to be affected by the public service cuts. We are a constituency of public sector workers and  users. We are going to be hit hard and we really need to make ourselves heard if we don't want the rawest of deals.

What is the first thing you would do for Hackney?

Deal with the 100s of empty council properties. I say this because I think it is do-able and just requires joined-up thinking. We have overcrowding and huge waiting lists and empty homes makes a place feel run down and ghostly. Nowhere should be empty for more that 6 weeks. Youth unemployment and gun and knife crime are of course priorities but to pretend there is an easy short-term solution here would be a lie.

What is your favourite thing about Hackney?

How not to be a cliche?  But yes it is the mix and the unexpected . I love our green spaces though some like Abney Park Cemetary could  do with a clean up. Of course not all of Hackney is lovely but when we get it right and you can feel the sheer energy of the place - it can be great.

Suzanne Moore is an award-winning columnist on the Mail on

Sunday, running as Independent Candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. She is tweeting at Moore4Hackney.