This week we spoke to Keith Prince, who represents Redbridge on the London Assembly, as well as serving as a local Redbridge Councillor for the last 13 years.
What’s your connection with the borough?
I have been a local councillor in Redbridge since 2003, so have represented the borough for 13 years. I have also been a London Assembly member for Redbridge and Havering since May 2016.
What’s the best thing about working or living in the borough?
What I love about working in Redbridge most of all is probably its amazing diversity. I’ve had days where I’ve been at an event at a Hindu temple in the morning, at a synagogue in the afternoon and a mosque in the evening. I often like to think that you can visit the entire world in a day without ever setting foot outside Redbridge.
What one thing would you change?
The administration.
Use three words to describe the area.
A great place.
Who is the most inspiring person you know?
That’s a very good question. I think I’m going to have to go with David Solomon, a family man I know quite well and who has always been a huge support to me in my career. I’d also be tempted to say Sir Trevor Brooking, who I’ve met at a few events now, but I could hardly claim to know him.
What new law would you introduce if you were Prime Minister?
I’d bring back hanging, because I think that it is not right for convicted murderers to serve a length of time in prison, then be released to murder innocent residents again. It may sound a bit flippant, but a murderer who has a death sentence carried out upon them cannot reoffend.
If you were the editor of this paper, what issues in the borough would you focus on?
I would focus on the decline of Ilford town centre in recent years, because that is a real issue. I would also focus on homelessness, because we now have 65 homeless people sleeping rough and something needs to be done about it.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here