Conor Dunwoody

Labour is letting Colliers Wood down. Years of their complacency has left Merton facing rising bills, squalid social housing conditions, and increasing levels of anti-social behaviour, itself a consequence of unforgivably high levels of child poverty. These issues are then compounded by a national government that echoes the hateful language of Enoch Powell, imitates the divisive politics of Nigel Farage, and protects its billionaire backers at all costs.

It doesn’t have to be like this. I’m standing for the Green Party because we believe a better future is possible – one where we tackle rising inequality, protect our climate, and stand up against hate. I’m the first member of my family to attend university, holding an MSc in International Development, and understand first-hand the importance of social justice when building fairer, safer communities. I’m also an experienced campaigner, having volunteered with youth charities and refugee rights groups, marched against Brexit, and served as the chair of Amnesty UK’s Student Action Network Committee.

As your Councillor, I’d use such experience to relentlessly hold this Labour administration to account, whether on the environment, public transport, or cost of living. No more excuses. No more being taken for granted. The future is fairer, freer, greener – and it’s here now.

Fevzi Hussein

I moved to Merton almost 20 years ago and immediately felt a connection with the green spaces and wonderful diversity in the area. We are blessed to have an incredible 115 parks and green spaces in our borough.

One of the defining characteristics of Merton is its strong sense of community. However, despite these positives, we know Merton also comes with a number of challenges. If elected as Councillor, I will robustly challenge the council on issues such as:

• Housing – Merton has seen too many cases of unsafe private rentals and weak enforcement. I will push for stronger action against rogue landlords, better insulation standards, and real support for tenants.
• Fly-tipping – commitment to work with the Council to root out the worst offenders and push for maximum fines, etc.
• Questioning the delays to the £30M regeneration project of Morden – the people of Morden deserve better!
• Highlighting anti-social behaviour, pushing for more social housing, challenging poor practice in social care, and making sure our open spaces are respected and kept clean will be some of the issues I am committed to.
• I will not remain silent if I see poor council practice – this will be challenged.

On international issues, I can say firmly that I oppose the ongoing bombing of Gaza and Lebanon, which many international organisations and human‑rights groups have described as unlawful or disproportionate. I believe Merton should be a borough that stands for peace, human rights, and the protection of civilians everywhere. These values guide how I approach local issues too – fairness, accountability, and compassion.

In thanking you for taking the time to read this, I would ask for your support to help Merton Greens deliver our shared aims – a better Merton for us all.

Mehmood Naqshbandi

I have lived in the borough for 35 years, currently on Plough Lane and previously in Colliers Wood itself, and was born in Southwark. I am recently retired following 40 years spent developing IT solutions for UK Government, Police, Courts, and the CPS as well as for the City of Edinburgh, City of Glasgow and Scottish Borders local authorities.

My environmental activism goes back more than 50 years, long before many of us understood the dire warnings of climate breakdown, and is tightly coupled with my deep involvement with the liberation movements in Southern Africa and the struggle for human rights and against racism in Britain, lasting almost as long: There is no climate justice without social justice, and vice versa.

I bring strong professional experience of organisational change to apply to the challenges of our hard-pressed community, to transform Merton into a borough that is truly equipped to care for all its citizens, not merely the affluent elites.

With your support for me and the Green Party, we can build a new and better society that is resilient, caring, inclusive and which provides opportunities for everyone, young and old. I want to make Merton into the borough that everyone aspires to live in, that attracts and retains the best talent and the kinds of enterprise and work opportunities that make us sustainable and secure in a deeply uncertain future.