Redbridge residents will be heading to the polls today to decide who will represent the borough on the London Assembly, and who should become mayor of the Capital.

Nine candidates are standing for the Havering and Redbridge constituency, with the successful person’s role to examine the mayor’s decisions and actions to ensure they deliver on their promises.

The incumbent is Conservative Roger Evans, who has been the borough’s London Assembly member since the elected body was created in 2000.

He said: “I was elected 12 years ago, but it feels like yesterday. I have a record to stand on and I know the area very well.

“It’s been a big advantage at recent hustings to speak about what I have already done.

“The main thing we are looking to do is hold down council tax. We have frozen the council tax for three years and we have cut the bills this year by one per cent.”

The Labour Party is represented by Mandy Richards, a former journalist.

If elected, she says she will work towards increasing the number of police on the streets, saving King George Hospital’s A&E department, ensuring more primary school places, increasing social and affordable housing and reducing travel costs.

She added: “The Labour Party also wants to ensure more investment for the area because it has suffered due to its remote location from London.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Farrukh Islam, a former Redbridge councillor, says increasing school places is a priority.

He is also pledging to further his efforts to keep the A&E unit at King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes open.

He added: “I have been fighting since 2006 to keep it open. Health is very important to people and there are systems in place that are not adequate.”

Haroon Saad, who is standing for the Green Party for the Havering and Redbridge seat, said: “We want to put pressure on the mayor to address inequality as the top 10 per cent are living really well while people at the bottom have nothing.”

The other candidates are: Malvin Brown (London Residents’ Association); Richard Edmonds (National Front); Mark Twiddy (English Democrats); Lawrence Webb (United Kingdom Independence Party) and Robert Taylor (British National Party).

Among the three coloured ballot papers voters will be handed at polling stations is the pink paper to choose the London mayor.

Conservative Boris Johnson is bidding for a second term and is up against: Siohban Benita (Independent); Carlos Cortiglia (British National Party); Jenny Jones (Green); Ken Livingstone (Labour); Brian Paddick (Liberal Deomocrat) and Lawrence Webb (United Kingdom Independence Party).