Voters go to the polls on Thursday May 5 to choose the next London Assembly Member for Hillingdon and Ealing, as well as all other members of the London Assembly and the London Mayor.

To vote in these elections, you must be registered by April 19.

Dr Onkar Sahota has been the member of the London Assembly for Ealing and Hillingdon since 2012, becoming the first Labour party candidate to be elected in the superconstituency.

He took the position with a 3,110 vote majority, representing a 9.2% swing, defeating incumbent Conservative party member Richard Barnes, who was the Deputy Mayor of London and former Hillingdon Councillor.

getwestlondon asked this year's candidates to tell you – in their own words – why you should vote for them.

Conservative - Dominic Gilham

Dominic Gilham is currently a West Drayton councillor

Background

I was born in Ealing, grew up in Southall, and have lived in Hillingdon for the past 20 years.

For the last 25 years, I have worked as a milkman, which means getting at 4am daily and seeing what London's weather has to throw at me!

I was first elected to Hillingdon Council in 2010, and am the council's representative on the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee along with being chairman of Hillingdon's licensing committee.

When I'm not out campaigning I love to spend Saturday mornings watching my two daughters play football for a local team.

Why vote Conservative?

As a member of a very successful administration, I promise that I will take the good examples of sound financial management which has made Hillingdon Council one of the most efficient in the country to City Hall.

I am proud of my record of delivering for our local residents and want the people of Ealing and Hillingdon to be represented at GLA by someone who will be on their side and not someone beholden to their socialist trade union backers.

The importance of stopping the third runway and continuing to fight against HS2 can not be ignored and alongside the need for good housing such as the developments in Hayes at the Old Vinyl Factory and the Southall Gas works are a priority.

For far too long, scare stories and half truths have been peddled by our current Assembly Member about the local NHS services and he must either put up or shut up.

It was in fact a group of local doctors who voted to close Ealing's A&E and it is important that residents are aware it was actually the Secretary of State for Health that saved it: unlike the failing Socialists in Ealing, that are forcing residents to have fortnightly refuse collections and charge extra to remove garden waste, and unlike Ealing Labour that wanted to close six libraries and now wants to shut community centres.

Mr Gilham's Top Five Priorities:

  1. Support and help residents to stop the third runway, working with City Hall and the Mayor of London to make this happen
  2. Identify good local brownfield sites, NOT green belt, to develop for more affordable housing for buyers and those who rent with residents of Ealing and Hillingdon getting priority
  3. Maintain the funding for London's police service - not cut as proposed by others to continue the reduction in crime across both boroughs and secure the future of the PCSO's
  4. Work with Transport for London to get the north to south Links needed in both boroughs and ensure all step free Crossrail stations open on time while protecting the Freedom Pass
  5. Promote both Ealing and Hillingdon, celebrating the people, the places, the environment and the heritage and look to the future as an important part of Greater London

Labour - Onkar Sahota

Sadiq Khan (mayoral candidate) with incumbent GLA candidate Onkar Sahota

Background

I arrived with my family in 1961, and first lived in Hayes in the London Borough of Hillingdon. I'm originally from the Punjab, India. My parents settled in the UK in order to provide a better future for their children, as with hundreds of other families of that generation.

My father first worked for British Airways at Heathrow Airport, as a maintenance worker, eventually establishing a local grocery business. His early experiences have instilled me with a passion for ensuring opportunities for others to succeed, as well as the value of aspiration.

I'm a practicing GP and have been a family doctor in West London since 1989, whilst maintaining GP surgeries in Hanwell and Southall, serving some 12,000 patients. Like many clinicians who have been elected to public office, I continue to practice part-time in order to retain my licence to practice.

I graduated in 1989 from Sheffield University Medical School, fulfilling my lifelong ambition. I also hold an MBA from the London Business School, having also attended the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

In addition to my work as a family doctor, I was a member of the Ealing Primary Care Trust Professional Executive Committee from 2002-2008.

From 1997 to 2000 I undertook work funded by the Department for International Development in Russia and Uzbekistan on reform of primary care, and advised the Heathrow City Regeneration Partnership on heath and community projects.

I was appointed a Justice of the Peace on the Middlesex Commission in 1990, and served as a magistrate on the Ealing Bench until my retirement in 2005. I was formerly the chair of governors at Wolf Field Primary School in Norwood Green in the late ninetis.

I'm Labour’s spokesperson for Health, chairing the London Assembly Health Committee at the Assembly.

I have a keen interest in the delivery of Crossrail and High Speed 2 within my constituency, as well as the Davies Commission and the future of Heathrow and I also sit on the Assembly’s Transport and Economy Committees.

As a regular voice on London’s radio and in the press, I'm also chair of the Save our Hospitals Ealing campaign against plans to reconfigure A&E services in North West London.

Dr Sahota's Top Five Priorities:

  1. Health - Preventing hospital closures and campaigning for a better NHS
  2. Health - Challenging the causes of health inequality in London
  3. Transport – fighting for a better, not bigger Heathrow
  4. Crime – protecting neighbourhood policing
  5. Housing – campaigning for more affordable housing for Londoners

Green Party - Meena Hans

Meena Hans is the Green Party GLA candidate

Background

I have lived and worked in London for most of my life. I am an adult education teacher, and a Londoner through and through.

I love London and love living in its vibrant west. I would represent the views of my fellow Ealing and Hillingdon residents with passion.

Why vote Green?

The Green Party is the only one focused on the positive, long term changes that would benefit us and the planet as a whole.

London is the most dynamic place on Earth, so with central government sitting on its hands, it's up to cities like ours to show how it's done and create a sustainable lifestyle. We can live well, in harmony with the planet rather than abusing it.

Should I be elected as your London Assembly member, I would truly represent you, and make sure City Hall implements what is important to you.

I would help protect our precious open spaces, improve our quality of life, and make London an even better place to live. As a mother (and now grandmother!) I will treat your concerns about the future with empathy and understanding.

Air pollution is a scandal, with 9,500 Londoners dying every year as a result. I will champion planning and transport policies that reduce pollution and improve wellbeing. I am strongly opposed to Heathrow expansion because of the extra air pollution it would cause, and know I have the backing of my party.

For a positive future, please vote Green.

Ms Hans's Top Five Priorities:

  1. Ensure there is decent housing available to buy and rent, truly affordable for ordinary Londoners. We need smart rent controls to ensure people can afford to live here securely and reverse the tide of homelessness.
  2. Reduce noise and air pollution so we can hear ourselves think, and breathe without filling our lungs with poison. Uxbridge Road needs zero emissions buses and less congestion.
  3. Make public transport safer, more accessible and more reliable. Our plan for new fares would mean you could travel anywhere for an hour for one flat fare. Cycling facilities would be improved across the boroughs.
  4. Improve and expand public toilet facilities in the area. No-one should be uncomfortable when out and about. This would also cut the sort of anti-social behaviour caused by a lack of toilets.
  5. Ensure fair wages and secure jobs here in Ealing and Hillingdon. We want to boost local businesses with discounted tube adverts and a chain-store levy.

Liberal Democrats - Francesco Fruzza

Francesco Fruzza will represent Lib Dems for the Ealing and Hillingdon vote

Background

I was born, educated and have lived all my life in West London. I am from an Italian background but my roots are firmly planted in West London. My children were born and have grown up here.

I have worked in engineering (apprentice) and IT for all of the 33 years I worked for British Airways, and am now working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

I am committed to London and want to ensure that we protect the quality of life for all residents and that we keep London special – the best city in the world.

Why vote Lib Dem?

One of the perceived failings in the political process in the past, has been a failure to listen and understand the various needs of the different sections of the community. I will listen and believe I can change that perception for the better.

I am grateful to be offered the opportunity to serve the whole diverse community in Ealing and Hillingdon and, if successful, I will ensure that all the elements which make my community strong, will be supported and championed.

I will seize the opportunity to continue to expand my knowledge and better understand the needs and aspirations of the whole community in my area.

The Lib Dems will offer consistency and unity of purpose, while Labour and Tories continue to quarrel internally and with each other.

In London, the Lib Dems will focus on the needs of London and is clear on major issues that need to be tackled.

Mr Fruzza's Top Five Priorities:

  1. Housing - London needs more housing of all tenures as a matter of urgency
  2. Transport - I support half price fares on Underground, Overground and TFL Rail Services for people travelling by 7.30am
  3. Improving recycling, especially household recycling - we must make it easy for people to play their part
  4. Ensure the voice of Ealing and Hillingdon residents is listened to when it come to the many NHS changes being proposed for west London.
  5. Keep the heart in our high streets and support local businesses

UK Independence Party - Alex Nieora

Alex Nieora is the UKIP candidate for Ealing and Hillingdon

Background

I am 32. I was born to Polish parents and grew up in Ealing where I currently live.

I obtained a degree in law from the University of Warwick and have worked for numerous law firms and government departments, as well as more recently setting up my own business as a residential property manager.

I have campaigned on numerous local issues. I chaired North Ealing Against HS2 - the residents' HS2 opposition campaign in Ealing which also successfully campaigned to get the Department for Transport to extend the HS2 bore tunnel under South Ruislip for 9km under the London Borough of Ealing, rather than running the route overground.

This has avoided the prospect of major disruption, land take to scores of homes and three and a half years of road closures at the Hanger Lane gyratory system, the busiest intersection in north west London.

I have also campaigned successfully to reduce business rates for struggling local high street shops, to tackle street drinking and fly tipping and am currently campaigning to tackle illegal pavement parking on a busy road near a local primary school which is forcing school kids to walk into the middle of the road to get by.

In 2014 I ran as an independent non party affiliated councillor in Perivale ward, where I ran my own campaign and came fifth with 1,165 votes, ahead of two of the Conservative candidates.

I joined UKIP later that year following my growing disillusionment with the European Union, its lack of democratic accountability to British voters and the rapidly spiralling costs of EU membership for the UK.

Why vote UKIP?

I am local and have a working knowledge of the issues facing Ealing and Hillingdon from my campaign work and involvement in local residents' groups.

UKIP also have a brilliant, committed and passionate London Mayor candidate in UKIP's cultural spokesman, Peter Whittle, who is also a born and bred Londoner.

UKIP are committed listening to the issues that affect local residents and acting to tackle them.

UKIP supports giving local people a stronger voice in how their area is governed and supports legally binding local referenda where 5% of the population sign a petition in a 6 month period.

UKIP believes in responsible spending and would call for a review of the salaries of over 300 positions at Transport for London and Crossrail whose pay is in excess of £100,000 per year as well as the chief of Crossrail who is paid a basic salary of £700,000.

As a working Londoner I understand the need to save and spend money efficiently. It seems that many politicians do not and are very happy to splash out when they are spending your money.

Mr Nieora's Top Five Priorities:

  1. Support for more affordable and social housing - while protecting our valued greenbelt and open spaces.
  2. Opposition to Heathrow third runway - UKIP opposes a third runway at Heathrow and the impact this will have on local housing and costs to the taxpayer.
  3. Opposition to the closure of Ealing Hospital A&E and maternity units - UKIP calls for the reversal of this policy and the reinstatement of a full blue light ambulance service.
  4. Support for improved local rail connections - UKIP supports the extension of Central Line to Uxbridge using existing maintenance tracks to spread load at peak times on the tube.
  5. Tackling illegal HMOs and unscrupulous landlords