My London by Cllr Hussain Akhtar

Q. What motivated you to enter local politics?
A. I have a combination of commitment and expertise gained through long-standing professional work, including quality audit of public provisions and services and lately as an inspector of schools for 13 years. I also have respect for justice and truth, demonstrated by substantial community work, including as chair of Harrow Council for Justice since 1992. I wish to use these qualities and experiences in a more structured way to improve the quality of life and socio-political environment locally and beyond.

Q. How long have you lived in London?
A. 45 years.

Q. What’s the best thing about living in London?
A. Diversity. While the diversity of cultures and faiths are positive experiences, there is a need to minimise the impact of diversity. Race relations bodies and advisers create a structural mechanism of control and a containment of ‘diverse’ people’s aspirations and expectations using the age-old strategy of divide and rule, adversely affecting the chances for social cohesion. It is about time to move away from the dynamics of race relations and multiculturalism and promote integration but on the basis of ‘different but equal’.

Q. What’s the worst?
A. Pollution. Controlling pollution has limitations, despite the transport strategy, congestion charges, and rather complex and confusing proposals like linking the congestion charge to car carbon dioxide emissions, which will have serious implications for councils.

Q. If you could change one thing about the capital, what would it be?
A. Reduce crime and the fear of crime. Well publicised statistical reductions in reported crime are only one, rather subjective, indicator.What remains less established are the levels of public confidence in reporting crime and the arrangements to record crime. A lack of credible information about crime does not help to reduce the fear of crime.

Q. What are the top three issues people bring to your surgery?
A. Pressure on parking because of the ‘Wembley days’, fear of crime and speeding cars near schools.

Q. Will the 2012 Olympics bring long-term benefits to London?
A. Not the Olympics alone. The ‘benefit’ debate cannot be allowed to degenerate into an environmental, architectural and an elite concern. It must take into account people and their different, but equally important, needs.

Q. What’s your favourite building in London?
A. Big Ben.

Q. Name one London building you think should be demolished
A. Difficult to pin-point just ‘one’.

Q. Describe yourself in three words
A. Professional, honest, open-minded.

Q. What historical figure do you most admire (and why)?
A. J F Kennedy because of his readiness to share Martin Luther King’s ‘dream’.

Q. What was the last book you read?
A. ‘The Last Mughal’ [by William Dalrymple].