London mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita launches manifesto in Hackney

Independent London mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita speaks to BSix College students at the launch of her manifesto

The only independent candidate in London’s mayor race, Siobhan Benita, has launched her manifesto in Hackney.

The City Hall hopeful promised to make housing fixed-price, build 80,000 affordable homes and freeze transport fares until 2014.

At her manifesto launch on Tuesday (17 April) at Hackney’s BSix sixth form College, Benita said she had “a very social agenda at heart aimed at improving opportunities for all Londoners.”

Benita added: “I’m delighted to be launching my full manifesto today and demonstrating that I have strong and creative ideas across all policy areas. I may be an independent candidate, but that doesn’t mean I am a single issue candidate. My manifesto demonstrates that I can challenge the main stream political parties from the thoughtful centre and not the wilder extremes, as one political commentator correctly put it”.

Siobhan Benita, 40, worked in the civil service for 15 years, before resigning from the Department of Health in protest over the coalition government’s NHS reforms.

The former civil servant’s odds of success on 3 May have fallen from 500 – 1 to 50 – 1 this week. Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick is now facing 100 – 1 odds and may be pushed into the fourth slot by Benita.

Benita’s manifesto includes seven key promises:

A new fixed-price housing market for London and 80,000 low-cost new homes which will never be sold into the private market;

Appointing an education commissioner as well as a youth mayor and building 167 primary schools

Protecting libraries and giving every child a library card;

A full, independent review of the Metropolitan Police, to cut out inefficiency and discrimination in the force and nurture mutual respect and support between the public and the Met;

Freezing transport fares until 2014 and reduceing fares for job seekers and low income residents. Also extending the Tube by an extra hour on weekends;

Establishing an Office of Budget Responsibility for London to bring in better financial management and permanently end vanity projects at City Hall;

Supporting a third runway for Heathrow, which will deliver 60,000 jobs to London, billions of pounds to the economy and ensure London remains a key global player.

Speaking to Hackney students and the media yesterday, Benita promised she would not “shy away from tough commercial decisions that are in the best interest of London.”

For Siobhan Benita’s full manifesto go here.