As the polls open for the General London Assembly elections on Thursday, May 5, The Harrow Times has asked each candidate for Brent and Harrow five reasons why they should be elected

Labour Party candidate and incumbent Navin Shah outline five pledges for residents:

"1. Partnership Working: As a trusted and successful campaigner I will hold mayor to account and carry on my fight for better resources and to protect our services. Brent and Harrow have a great reputation and so much potential which I will enhance by collaborating with local communities and voluntary organisations.

"2. Housing: Tory mayor has created housing crisis in London. Brent is worse hit with sky high private sector rents and acute shortage of affordable homes. I will fight my corner to build genuine affordable and socially rented housing for the local needs. I will also fight for control of rocketing private sector rents.

"3. Policing: Local police numbers, under Tory mayor, have alarmingly dropped and neighbourhood poIicing teams have been decimated. I will press mayor for more effective local neighbourhood police teams to drive down crime which has risen to worrying levels recently.

"4. Sustainable Transport: I will fight hard to deliver lifts at Harrow On The Hill and Northwick Park Stations. I will work for a greater emphasis on walking and cycling including ‘Mini Hollands’ in outer London boroughs like Brent and Harrow. My campaign will continue to improve local air quality.

"5. Economic Growth/Regeneration: I will place local regeneration as my priority to ensure economic growth, support for small businesses and provision of community facilities. Old Oak Common, Wembley and Harrow and Wealdstone offer huge regeneration opportunities for the kind of affordable housing and economic growth we require in Brent and Harrow."