1.  What is your background and when did you come to live in Woolwich?

I have lived in the Royal Borough of Greenwich for over 15 years with my family. My children attend a local school where I used to serve as a School Governor for almost 10 years. I have been consulting in Employment Law and Regulatory Services in Woolwich for the past five years.

I graduated from the University of Sofia, Bulgaria, where I bagged a Masters Degree in Social Psychology in 1993. Having spent over 6 years in Bulgaria, I speak the Bulgarian language fluently. I later attended King’s College where I obtained my professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing in 1998. Prior to commencing my nursing career, I worked as a Track Cleaner for the London Underground Company, cleaning the track and tube stations at night. I later joined the Queens Hotel as a Kitchen Porter before moving to a rehabilitation home for people with mental health problems where I worked as a Health Care Assistant for few years before commencing my nursing studies.

A few years back, I single-handedly set up an “Employment Law Advisory Service” which offers free advice to people who face disciplinary hearing, discrimination, bullying, victimisation and harassment at work. The Service was self-funded without any recourse to external funds.

People were so touched with my community activities, that in 1999, I was presented with an award, by the then Deputy Commissioner of Police – Commander John Grieve, on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, for fighting discrimination in the workplace. In 2000, I was given an “Our Heroes Community Champion Award” by the South London Press, for my voluntary work to fight injustice and harassment in the workplace.

I have represented hundreds of workers at employment tribunals and disciplinary hearings who had no financial means of hiring lawyers to represent them. I get motivated to fight for justice for other people, having gone through the same experience as well.

2.  I understand you worked in the NHS. How long was this for and what did you do?  Has this work affected your political outlook?

I worked for NHS Trusts for over 14 years and at a managerial level in four different NHS Foundation Trusts within London. My last job in the NHS was a Clinical Service Manager.

During my time in the NHS I witnessed at first hand the damage both the past Labour government and current Conservative government have done to the NHS through the Private Finance Initiative which takes the resources away from the frontline staff. This obviously affected my political outlook.

In 2006 I got to the peak of my career when I was elected by the majority of over 200,000 of the registered nurses in England to represent them in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC- the world’s largest regulatory body). I used my position to influence major changes in the nursing profession and to improve quality of care to the wider public.

In 2013 I resigned in order to concentrate on my Consultancy business.

3.  Have you always been a member of the Green party or if not when did you join and what attracted you to the Green party?

I used to be an active member of a Labour Party until about five years ago when I left the party. During my time in Labour I served in various posts: as elected Ethnic Minorities Officer for Erith & Thamesmead Constituency Labour Party; Executive Committee Member of Erith & Thamesmead Labour Party; General Council Member of Erith & Thamesmead Labour Party and Member of Greenwich Local Government Committee of The Labour Party. I submitted a nomination form as a prospective MEP (Member of the European Parliament) candidate and I was shortlisted at the initial screening of the selection of MEPs in 2004.

I left the party about six years ago when I no longer saw it as a party to build a fairer society and I no longer share its values as its policies and manifestoes could no longer guarantee opportunity and security for all. I subsequently stood at the last General Election as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Erith & Thamesmead Constituency. It is nearly two years since I joined The Green Party. I was attracted to The Green Party because of its core values. It is the only party of social and environmental justice that supports a radical transformation of society for the benefit of all and for the planet as a whole. I was also inspired by what it stands for by its call to ensure that everyone has access to a secure job and a decent living wage; and its belief in the restoration of public services to public hands.

 4.  What are you three priorities for Greenwich and Woolwich?

I am a local resident who has campaigned tirelessly for workers rights’ and I have a proven record of fighting for the interests of local people.

My three priorities for Greenwich and Woolwich Constituency will be to support the local community in their campaigns for “No to Silvertown Tunnel” and “No to IKEA” in order to reduce the risk of long-term exposure to air pollution and demolition of green space in Greenwich. I will also campaign for the building of more affordable social housing and the use of empty properties to address the problems of homelessness within the constituency of Woolwich and Greenwich. I have the passion and commitment to serve my local community. My experience in life has given me foundation and knowledge to serve the whole community by representing them in the next parliament.

Abbey Akinoshun

February 2015

SOURCE-  GREENWICH GREEN PARTY WEBSITE