Hello! It is my honour and my privilege to stand here today and declare my candidacy for the constituency of North London. To represent part of the foremost center for trade and commerce in the world is truly the highest calling. Now, more than ever, our country needs strong leadership. Years of Conservative government have taken their toll. From a Brexit negotiation fraught with disarray and discord, steep and devastating welfare and tax cuts, to a refusal to hold accountable the corporations which exploit the British worker and the environment, the Tories have long overstayed their welcome. The British people deserve a government that works for everyone, not just the few bankers and corporations that line the pockets of some politicians.

To that end, I am pleased to bear the standard of this Labour Party. We have developed a manifesto more progressive, more fair, and more reasonable than any of our predecessors. A Labour government would be a drastic change-- but in this era, drastic change is needed. We live in uncertain times. The gap between those who have and those who have not is widening by the day-- not since the era of the industrial revolution have so few enjoyed so much, and so many so little. It is to that end that I am proud to say the Labour Party will work to implement a new deal for the British worker, one that emphasizes the irreplaceable role they play in the world economy, and recognizes the exploitation and hardships they have faced over the last decades. Together, we will raise the national minimum wage to £10.50 per hour and place limits on how much bosses can earn in excess of their workers’ wages. The vital role of trade unions--long a dirty word in British politics--will be restored, with new protections and privileges for collective bargaining and wage negotiation. We will work with local councils to make public transport free and accessible to everyone-- public infrastructure has been sorely neglected by this Tory government.

I am a political newcomer. This is my first time standing for a national election on the Labour ticket. The Conservatives have proven to us, however, that “old leadership” is not virtuous. We have seen the example of “proven leadership” set by the old boys on Parker Street. The time has come for a new generation of political leadership-- and a new generation of political engagement. Gone are the days when one could afford to sit back and let the government conduct its business. As Britons, as Londoners, and as concerned citizens, we must scrutinize every decision made by those in power and come to our own conclusions, no matter whose pen signed the order. Together, we must work together to build a stronger London and a stronger Britain. Thank you.