Alison Stoecker – ‘I’m used to battling’

AN independent candidate for Hillrise’s upcoming by-election has laid out her plans to tackle crime and improve access to public services in the area.

Alison Stoecker, who has been an Islington North resident on the borders of Hillrise for the past 25 years, told the Tribune she wants to build a “relationship of trust” with constituents after disruption created by having “so many councillors over a short period of time”.

Residents in the area went to the polls at the beginning of May, electing Labour’s Ollie Steadman after long-time Hillrise councillor David Poyser retired.

Now, following Mr Steadman’s unexplained resignation, voters will return to the ballot boxes on August 15.

Ms Stoecker said that the main concerns in the area centre around an increase in crime, and a need for more social housing.

She added that she wanted to “make them [the council] hold big construction projects to account, have more consultations [with residents], and scrutinise them a lot more”.

Ms Stoecker, who previously worked for Labour in John McDonnell’s office when he was the shadow chancellor, said her work in schools across Islington has complemented her understanding of national policy.

She further explained that working as a special educational needs teacher had prepared her for the responsibilities of being a councillor.

“[Case-work] is what I used to do,” she said. “I used to deal with this at school. I would be on those home visits, I would be talking to the housing department, I would be saying ‘this child is in insecure housing for far too long, they can’t learn’.”

Ms Stoecker became a single parent after her partner was killed in a car accident, leaving her with two young children. This, she said, has made her a “fighter”.

She told the Tribune: “I’m used to battling. I’ve had to battle for myself, for my children. I’ve fought as a woman of colour. I want to show that I’m here to stay, and I have the skills and the experience and the drive that is necessary.”

The independent candidate added that residents were disillusioned with “corrupt governance and bulls*** bureaucracy”.

“I want to really let them know that we can do politics in the style that I feel Jeremy [Corbyn]’s legacy has left us,” she said.

Ms Stoecker would be sat on the opposition benches if she won a place at the Town Hall.

The ruling Labour group is fielding Shreya Nanda in the by-election, who also said in an interview with the Tribune last week that she wants to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in the ward.

Ms Stoecker said: “To be quite honest, there are going to be cross-overs and similarities with anyone who wants to do better. I want to represent the people. If the policies do not align with what the people’s needs are then I can challenge them.”

She added: “That independent voice is essential here. I won’t be able to be silenced by the party’s political narrative.”

The now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn has been out doorknocking for Ms Stoecker during her by-election campaign.