INDIAN-origin independent mayoral candidate for West Midlands has formed a new local party to fight elections in May 2021.
Ashvir Sangha, 31, has formed ‘Our West Midlands’ party to offer voters a 'new local alternative.
“We have formed a new local party, Our West Midlands, to fight the May 2021 mayoral election. My independent candidacy offers voters a new local alternative - free from the same old Labour and Conservative drama. The creation of the Mayor of the West Midlands role in 2017 gave us a Mayor with a voice, platform and influence, but not necessarily the power and money to take action," said Sangha.
"Instead of spending our time politely asking London for things which never seem to arrive, it’s time to demand much more control over our own affairs. We will bring about a devolution revolution demanding our fair share of power and resources.”
Raised in Birmingham, Sangha is the Oxford-educated grandson of Sikh farmers from the Punjab who came to the UK in the 1950s.
He has spent a decade working as a social entrepreneur in education, organising mentorship programmes for young people in the UK & Asia, including the Brum Young Leaders programme.
The election was originally scheduled for May 2020 but due to the coronavirus pandemic postponed for a year.
"In the first mayoral election in 2017 only 26 per cent of voters took part. We can enthuse some of the 1.5 million who didn’t vote," said Sangha.
The main contestants are Conservative incumbent Andy Street and Labour challenger Liam Byrne.
Kulsuma Aktergetty images