On May 5 Londoners will go to the polls and vote for a new Mayor for this great city.

But they will also be voting for candidates vying to be your London Assembly Member for the next four years.

Five candidates are in the running for the West Central London Assembly constituency - which incorporates the boroughs of Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea. The current AM for the area is Kit Matlhouse, who is not contesting the seat next month.

getwestlondon asked this year’s candidates to tell you why voters should put a cross beside their name on the polling card and their top five priorities (though some gave fewer).

Here’s what they had to say...

Conservative - Tony Devenish

Conservative candidate Tony Devenish

Background

Tony Devenish says he is a Londoner, not a career politician. He is a Westminster councillor for Knightsbridge and Belgravia and the senior planning chairman on the council. He has a 25 year career in business and infrastructure.

Why vote Conservative?

“Only a Conservative Mayor and GLA Member can work with government for the benefit of London. Sadiq Khan will be as divisive as Jeremy Corbyn. I will work for you.”

Top priorities

  1. Developing London while listening to residents and businesses - Like Mayoral candidate Zac, I am a committed localist. Yes we need more homes and infrastructure like CrossRail 2, but it has to be with the active consent of local people

  2. Safe clean streets - People grow cynical when politicians do not listen. I take the mantra ‘Clean, safes streets’ very seriously. We take a zero tolerance to low level crime and grime and the effect is that more serious matters are ‘nipped in the bud’.
    Fly tipping and garbage waste collection is so vital in an urban environment. That’s why I supported [H&F Council Conservative leader] Greg Smith to fight the Labour Council threatened cuts to bin collections

  3. Low council tax - A Labour Mayor will hit residents with a £1,300 council tax rise something I oppose

UKIP - Clive Egan

UKIP candidate Clive Egan

Background

Clive Egan is the chairman of the Westminster and City branch of UKIP. He has lived in London all his adult life, mostly in Kensington and Westminster. After studying an MBA in finance he has worked in financial services, financial journalism, and currently for a strategy consultancy firm based in the constituency.

Why vote UKIP?

UKIP, unlike the other parties can deliver. We are not hamstrung by political ideology, the influence of special interest groups, and ‘political correctness’, but are guided by common sense and a can-do attitude.

“As someone who has worked in financial services for more than 20 years I recognise the great potential London has as a financial centre not burdened by EU restrictions imposed by misguided EU bureaucrats and the need to take into account the business interests of competitor cities such as Frankfurt or Paris.

“Above all, we are the patriotic party guided by what is in the interests of British people from every background.”

Top priorities

  1. Housing - Like many people in London I have struggled to find adequate accommodation and the housing situation is now worse than it has probably ever been in London and would therefore be my main priority if elected.
    I do not believe dealing with London’s housing crisis of overcrowding and rising house prices can be done by setting house building targets, but that the solution to the crisis is not just about how we deliver more housing, but more about reducing demand which can be achieved by only allowing the immigration London needs

  2. Social housing - UKIP believes a ‘strong local connection’ of those applying is a strong criteria which means someone should have lived in London for at least five years before keys are given, and also there is a need to build genuinely affordable homes for Londoners homes using grants under the ‘Affordable Homes Programme’ which should above-all benefit local people who have lived in London for at least five years too.
    Furthermore, empty housing should be prioritised for development

  3. Law and order - Greater emphasis needs to be placed on territorial policing and Borough Commanders should be given more responsibility for local policing plans. A crime is a crime, and it should be investigated regardless of the political correctness around issues of ethnicity, race or faith of anyone involved that some would see take precedence.
    I want those who supply illegal drugs to face the full force of the law and encourage the police to take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour

  4. EU red tape - I want to see the London Assembly fight the EU red tape that strangles London businesses

Lib Dems - Annabel Mullin

Lib Dem candidate Annabel Mullin

Background

A former Met officer based in Soho and Mayfair, Annabel Mullin is now a magistrate sitting in Hammersmith and Westminster courts. Her expertise and specialism is the criminal justice system and she studying a criminology PhD at University College London. She went to school in Hammersmith and is married with three children

Why vote Lib Dem?

“As a Londoner I am keenly aware of London’s needs. As a Lib Dem I know our vision is uniting, empowering and creates opportunity. Only the Lib Dems are working for a London fit for the 21st Century, a city that can be a leader in an interconnected world, that can adapt and adopt ideas and people from around the world. We will work with residents to address their concerns and problems drawing on the best London has to offer.

I have worked across West Central in both the public and private sector and served the community as a magistrate for years, so I have a thorough understanding of what problems face us but also what solutions I, Caroline Pidgeon [the Lib Dem Mayoral candidate] and the Liberal Democrats, can provide.

Top priorities

  1. Fighting any 3rd runway at Heathrow

  2. Saving Charing Cross Hospital

  3. Supporting Crossrail 2 but working locally to decide the best location for stations

  4. Battling the Super Sewer on Carnwath Road

  5. Supporting 20mph zones

Green Party - Jennifer Nadel

Green candidate Jennifer Nadel

Background

Award-winning journalist broadcaster and novelist Jennifer Nadel is the Green Party candidate for West Central. The mum of three, who is a qualified barrister, stood as the party’s 2015 General Election candidate in Westminster North. She has vowed to preserve public services, protect green spaces, improve air quality and public transport and to stop the demolition and sell-off of social housing.

Why vote Green?

“I’m standing for the Green Party primarily because I believe in social justice. We’re the only party to actively oppose austerity and the whole-scale demolition of much loved housing estates against residents’ wishes.

“Across the constituency we’re seeing the interests of developers being put before the interests of the community. Land that belongs to the community is being sold off to the highest bidder instead of being using it to provide genuinely affordable housing and vital community spaces.

We’ve lost Earls Court Exhibition Centre and scores of pubs. Now Shepherd’s Bush Market, swathes of the Westway and Whiteleys in Bayswater look set to follow . We’re witnessing the wholesale social cleansing of the area.”

Top five priorities

  1. Housing - It’s a scandal that housing has become so unaffordable to the majority of Londoners

  2. Cut deadly air pollution - Our constituency has the worst pollution hotspots in London. It’s a disgrace that our children are forced to breathe air that is beyond safe legal limits and that nearly 10,000 Londoners are dying prematurely because of our polluted air

  3. Transport - We’d introduce a flat fare for commuters with tickets that could be used on buses or tubes without extra costs

  4. Jobs - We’d create a bank for London to support small businesses and the local communities. We’d preserve what’s special and unique about our high streets and protect independent businesses from soaring rents. We’d also deliver a Living Wage for all Londoners

  5. A greener London - We’d protect green spaces and playing fields, veto any new runways and set up a not-for-profit energy company

Labour - Mandy Richards

Labour candidate Mandy Richards

Background

Mandy Richards has worked across London as a teacher, journalist, youth justice caseworker and Labour & UNISON activist. She went to a comprehensive school and university before the days of tuition fees.

Why vote Labour?

“I deal daily with the frontline fallout from Tory Government policy and as an Assembly Member I will be a strong advocate for the people of West Central giving voice to their cares, concerns and aspirations.

“Labour will freeze transport fares, ensure genuinely affordable housing, restore neighbourhood policing and end the scourge of poor air quality.

Sadiq Khan and I have a plan that will increase opportunities for everyone, providing a unifying hope-filled vision for London`s future.”

Top 5 priorities:

  1. Fix the Tory housing crisis so people can afford to stay in our city

  2. Freeze transport fares so people in Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster don’t pay a penny more on public transport in 2020 than they do now

  3. Get on with the next phase of transport improvements so we can have a transport system fit for the 21st Century

  4. Restore genuine neighbourhood policing so we can tackle the rise in youth gangs & violent crime, and so people feel safe on our streets

  5. End the scourge of poor air quality by planting more trees, making public transport genuinely green, taking action on the most polluting vehicles and monitoring all hazardous emissions

READ MORE:London Assembly candidates for Brent and Harrow hoping for your vote