Brentford & Isleworth Conservatives Select Brexiteer Candidate
Newcomer Seena Shah wants to 'get Brexit done' by 31 October
A new face has entered politics in the constituency. 30-year-old Brexiteer Seena Shah seen above in the centre of the photograph, has been selected as the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Brentford & Isleworth constituency at the next General Election.
Ms Shah, who is a digital communications consultant currently living in Chelmsford, will be fighting to win back the seat lost by Mary Macleod to Labour's Ruth Cadbury, an avid Remainer who represents a constituency in which the majority of voters are in favour of staying in the EU.
Ms Shah voted to leave the EU and believes "We need to get Brexit done by 31 October. It's been three years since we voted to leave and we need to get on with it."
However she said it was not true that she was an 'enthusiast for no deal'.
The last General Election saw a large swing to the Labour Party in the constituency, which was attributed to anger over Brexit in a largely 'Remain' area, an increase in young people voting, and concern over the Conservative's social care plans.
Dubbed the 'Revenge of the Remainers', the swing towards Labour in Chiswick, was estimated at over 18% for local MP Ruth Cadbury and gave her another chance to represent the constituency in Parliament, with a five figure majority.
The digital communications consultant who will challenge Ms Cadbury next time around is undaunted by the fact that it is her first time to run for election. She is starting her campaign immediately meeting local voters to assess their concerns on local and national issues and is in the process of moving to Hounslow, where she has family links.
In an interview, she told this website that she has concerns over the plans for a third runway.
"I'm quite a big environmentalist so I am very acutely aware of the air quality in the area particularly the C02 emissions and I have huge concerns about voting for something that will make life even worse. We have recently seen research about the consequences on children's mental health from living in polluted areas. If we do decide to go ahead with a third runway that needs to be offset and the air cleaned up using whatever methods are necessary. I feel the environment is just as important as the economy."
The selection was made at a meeting of local Conservative members earlier this week where she was questioned on a wide range of national and local issues including crime, the environment, the economy, NHS and Brexit.
Her parents were born in East Africa and moved to London as children. Her father grew up in Hounslow and she spent much of her childhood there - several family members still live in the constituency. She previously ran unsuccessfully for election to Chelmsford city council.
She joined the Conservative Party as a student, while David Cameron was Prime Minister, and she has been influenced by some of his Big Society ideas.
"For me what the Conservative Party represents is that it's trying to build a country where it pays to work and where there are opportunities for everyone despite their background.
"I wasn't born to a privileged background, my parents always worked really hard and I've had to work hard for everything I have.
"I'm also impressed by all the members of the party I have met who are contributing to their community, and bringing back the sense of community where people look after each other.
"I admire any woman elected to parliament but I think what I can offer and what Ruth does not is that I would be out there engaging with every diverse community in the constituency."It's a patchwork of all kinds of people and I want to engage with everybody, not just the people that vote for me, It's still important to understand their circumstances and issues and represent their views as well.
"Let no one be in any doubt that we are out to win back Brentford and Isleworth for the Conservatives whenever the next General Election comes. We are ready and our campaign has started.”
She is a member of the largest Jain organisation in the UK and if elected, would be the first Jain Member of Parliament to sit at Westminster. Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life showing compassion and non-violence towards all living beings.
Robbie Stewart, Chairman of Brentford & Isleworth Conservative Association, said, "We are absolutely delighted that Seena has been selected as our Parliamentary Candidate. We are looking forward to working hard with her throughout our constituency and once again having a Conservative Member of Parliament."
Cllr Jo Biddolph, leader of the nine Chiswick Conservative councillors said, "I am delighted that we have selected Seena to stand as our prospective parliamentary candidate. With family connections in Hounslow she knows our diverse area well. She’s self-employed and instinctively - and politically - understands the issues that our traders face here in Chiswick, as well as in Brentford and Hounslow, and wants to represent their views and champion their causes. She’s forward-looking and energetic. I am very much looking forward to campaigning with her starting this Saturday in Osterley. "
September 23, 2019