THE fight for Harrow-on-the-Hill ward is hotting up with a trio of independents trying to beat the Tories in their own backyard.

Former Tory Eileen Kinnear is vying to hold on to her Harrow-on-the-Hill seat on Harrow Council and is sharing a platform with two fellow independent candidates, Marcello Borgese and Christine Jones.

They are competing in a traditional Tory stronghold, against a fresh set of Conservative candidates - Sam Mirza, Simon Williams, and Ameet Jogia.

Mrs Kinnear, Mr Borgese, and Mrs Jones insist they are separate candidates who are united under the aim of representing residents without political party influence.

Mr Borgese said: “As independents, we can divert all our time to the residents, and can vote in the way we think is best for our ward instead of how we are directed to vote by the party whip.”

Mrs Kinnear added: “We hold different opinions on different things, and we believe when it comes to voting, we can discuss it and each express our views independently.”

The Conservatives took 56 per cent of the vote in the ward in 2006 and on the face of it should hold all three seats comfortably. But the 2006 result was with Mrs Kinnear on the ballot as a Tory and as the candidate who won the most number of votes.

She has since been expelled from the party and is now hoping her record on the council will convince voters to stick with her.

Mr Mirza is one of the trio of new Tories, with sitting councillor Mark Versallion standing in Stanmore Park this time out and Don Billson retiring.

The businessman has lived in the ward all his life, and was an instrumental figure in the creation of the Conservative Muslim Forum on joining the party.

He told the Harrow Times he decided to run for council to tackle problems he sees in Harrow-on-the-Hill, such as crime, bin collections, and planning issues, and insists he will not be a Conservative party stooge.

He said: “All I am interested in is being a voice for Harrow-on-the-Hill, I didn't want to stand anywhere else.”

The battle between the Independents and the Conservatives in the ward could ironically end up being beneficial for the Labour candidates.

The party took just 27 per cent of the vote in 2006 and was well beaten, but could find themselves in contention if the Conservative vote is split down the middle.

The full list of candidates for the Harrow-on-the-Hill ward can be found here.