With just one week to go until Londoners vote to choose a Mayor and London Assembly member, a former Conservative has come out in support of Labour in a new video.

Kishan Devani, former Deputy Chair of the London Conservatives, and a former Conservative Parliamentary and London candidate announced yesterday (25 April) that he will be backing Bassam Mahfouz, Labour's candidate for Ealing & Hillingdon and Sadiq Khan for Mayor of London.

In a video uploaded to X, Devani says: "People in this area tell me they are desperate for change from the horrors this Conservative government is inflicting. 

"They are horrified at the thought the Tories could do more untold damage if they were allowed to run London. Sadiq and Bassam have a plan to tackle the issues the Tories have created and that's why I'll be using all three of my votes for Labour on 2 May."

In response, Bassam Mahfouz, Labour candidate for Hillingdon and Ealing said: "Wherever I go, I hear stories of people despondent with higher bills and nothing to show for it. 

"The Tories have created a situation where there are children going hungry because families can't make ends meet. 

"As a parent, if you saw a friend of your child was hungry, you wouldn't hesitate to help them out. Labour is doing that by introducing and extending free school meals. 

"They callous Conservatives have pledged to end it!"

Labour say it has plans to tackle the housing crisis 'caused' by the Tories by building genuinely affordable homes and create 'well-paid' jobs to help residents thrive on their salaries, rather than 'simply survive'.

Professor ​Kishan Devani BEM (British Empire Medal) was also previously part of the Liberal Democrat party from 2019 to 2023.

London will be deciding its next mayor and London Assembly members in elections next week on Thursday, 2 May 2024.

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