The Radisson Blu Edwardian London Heathrow was a dignified setting for the Ealing and Hillingdon Conservative Associations fundraising dinner. It was an evening with London Mayor Boris Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston and Conservative Mayoral Candidate, and Cllr Dominic Gilham, GLA candidate for Ealing and Hillingdon. The Radisson Blu - part of the Jasminder Singh family’s Edwardian Hotel Group hosted the two receptions for the event and co- sponsored the three course dinner.
Speaking about the importance of the upcoming Mayoral elections, London Mayor Boris Johnson said, “This is a crucial election for everybody who loves our city and who wants to have a unifying mayor.”
Promoting Zac, Boris added, “I think Zac Goldsmith is the man, because he has wonderful credentials as a man who wants to build housing but not destroy London’s green spaces in outer London, a man who has passion about the environment, who has lots of interesting and original ideas for low carbon vehicles and how to improve this city. A man who, I think, understands that London is composed of mini-communities, many nationalities, many people who must be brought together in harmony and Zac Goldsmith would be a superb mayor of London. I hope very much people will support him.”
He gave a thunderous and entertaining speech picking holes in the opposition candidate and praising that of his own party, while Zac Goldsmith came over in his talk as straight honest. He pointed to his own record of achievement in his constituency, with examples like healthier and cheaper meals now available for the first time for all primary school children.
Dominic Gilham Councillor and GLA candidate speaking about why he thinks he suits the Asian constituency, said: “I spent 25 years living in Southall and then the rest of my time I’ve been in Hillingdon, so I’m the best for both boroughs.
“No one would know better how well the Asian community has done in Southall. I hope they will recognize that I can represent them, I don’t see colour. My own children are from the Philippines so we have a mixed race anyway.
"We don’t have Indians or Pakistanis who struggle with the language! They’ve integrated, they’re now British culture.”
Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, Zac Goldsmith said, “Boris Johnson can take a lot of credit for putting London back on the map as the most important city on Earth. I am standing to protect that success, to make it work for all Londoners.
“We have an issue in London, a problem in London, and that is that too many people, despite that success, feel that they’ve been locked up; they’ve been priced up in their own city. So we need to put that well, we need to make London affordable for Londoners in order to keep that light shining.”
When asked why Asians should choose him over an Asian candidate such as Sadiq Khan, he said, “I don’t think people in London vote for people for their race or their background.I don’t think that’s logical, because London is the most diverse city, or one of most diverse cities on Earth. We have so many different languages, so many different backgrounds; different ethnic groups who contribute so much for London. They get on, we have a harmony in London, and the mayor’s job is to speak for all Londoners, not just for one group. I really hope that ethnicity doesn’t ever come into politics in this country, because it would be divisive and unhelpful.”
Cllr Seema Kumar who was busy seeing to the huge gathering of guests of all nationalities and many businesses, in between talked to Asian Voice briefly. Endorsing Zac as the candidate of Asian choice, she added, “I believe in Zac as a good candidate. He is very committed and understands the needs of residents, communities and businesses. He enjoys Asian culture, but then he’s also the people’s best person, he’s the person for every community. That’s why you’ve seen present here people of so many nationalities, especially Londoners supporting Zac.”
A successful luxury auction was conducted by Julian Gallant.Special thanks were given to Atul Pathak, Dr Rami Ranger CBE and Gurmail Mali, to Hillingdon organiser Simon Arnold, and “Team Ealing;”- Samantha Banton, Sara Kumar, Jamila Bibi, Azeem Ali and Joe, Edwardian team Craig, Sophie, Louis Pepa and all supporters.
