Local elections 2014: Seven Kings voters departing from previous parties of choice

Syed Zaidi outside the polling station at Downshall Primary School in Seven Kings. (Image: Archant)

At Downshall Primary School, in Meads Lane, Seven Kings, many residents were making a departure from their previous parties of choice.

Leo Marianesan outside the polling station at Downshall Primary School in Seven Kings. (Image: Archant)

Shubnam Arshad, 40, attended with her daughter Gullaffashah, 13, son Shaamraaze, 14, and husband Arshad, 45.

She said: “We were going to vote for Labour but we have changed our vote to Conservative. I have always voted Labour, but we want more things going on and it [the years of the current council] has gone much better.”

For Shubnam, who said she has not agreed with some of the national Conservatives’ policies, such as the rise in tuition fees, one of the priorities for the new council should be education.

She said: “Education is a must. Education and jobs.”

Leo Marianesan, 44, previously voted for the Conservatives, but has changed to Labour.

One of the pledges which caught his eye is the promise to introduce 30 minutes of free parking on pay and display machines across the borough.

He said: “It is a very good idea, it would be good for the local people and shopkeepers.

“Labour has been doing good in this area, coming down to talk to people and have meetings.”

Syed Zaidi, 34, voted for the Liberal Democrats after choosing Labour in the last elections.

He said; “Labour haven’t done anything for the last four years. The Liberal Democrats have been doing their best with the Tories, especially in this area.”

However, Jim Wicker is sticking with the Conservatives.

He said: “I have always voted for them. I would prefer to see them without the Liberals, a lot of it [their ideas] has been washed out by the Liberals.

“They [Conservatives] like to try and give business a chance, but I think they need to get better on crime and cut red tape for the police.”