At the next election I believe we can all look forward to being represented by a Labour MP who’s dedicated to Wimbledon and its people.

As council leader in Merton, we won many awards, including being the best achieving council in the country. As a Labour MP I will use my experience as a former council leader in Merton to campaign effectively and secure the resources Wimbledon is crying out for. I fought cuts to our local hospital and forced health bosses to think again about closing a vital local hospital.

Even before I became a councillor, I was dealing with the press and local politicians about cuts to Hillcross primary school where I was a governor and where both our children were educated.

I will use the knowledge I gained during my time as a Commissioner at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to expose the health, housing and education inequalities that shame Britain and parts of our constituency today.

Working for the Federation of Small Businesses, I became the voice of the corner shop and won rates relief and policy commitments that made life easier for small businesses, the mainstay of our town centres in Wimbledon.

And as a trade unionist, I worked with the TUC and with small businesses in backing the introduction of the National Minimum Wage because I did not want to see good employers undercut by bad ones who were driving down wages.

When I first stood in a council by-election in Merton in 2003 it was a close fight against the Tories and the Liberal Democrats. Since then, I've increased my majority over both of them twenty-fold! I know how to beat them.

From our council’s work with vulnerable children to putting Merton schools in the top 5 for progress; from offering council tax support during the austerity years to creating 4,500 extra primary school places; from making Merton one of the lowest boroughs for crime in London to bringing AFC Wimbledon back to Plough Lane, I have a solid track record of getting things done.

With me you’ll get someone who combines a business-like approach with motivation, drive and resolve; someone who is already a winner.