Who are Watford mayoral candidates in 2022 local elections?

Cllr Asif Khan is Labour's candidate

I want to be the Mayor of Watford – the town I was born and raised in. After 20 years of the Liberal Democrats I’ll provide a fresh start and better future for our town.

The cost-of-living crisis is hitting Watford's families hard with astronomical energy prices, rising food costs, petrol and council tax are up too.

As Mayor, I would ensure that the council actively helped families at this time by not putting up charges for essential services. I would also introduce a ground-breaking Poverty Charter with the aim of eliminating child and pensioner poverty.

Read more: Watford mayoral candidates respond to threat of closure for Pryzm

I oppose the monstrous ‘Taylor's Towers’, which the Liberal Democrats are allowing to be built all over the town - more and more, higher and higher. It is out of control and nowhere is safe. The Liberal Democrats are taking no responsibility and blame others for their own failures.

I would insist developers build their fair share of affordable homes so young people and first-time buyers can either rent or get on the housing ladder. I’d start a programme of building council houses again.

Despite their promises the Tories have failed to increase police numbers. As Mayor, I’ll fund more community police to patrol and protect our streets, something which the Liberal Democrats refused to provide.

I fully back the plans for a new hospital at the current Watford General Hospital site, as Labour always has. This is the quickest and best way to get a new hospital Watford residents have waited decades for.

It is time for change and a better future. I am that change, I am that future.

Conservative - Binita Mehta-Parmar

Binita Mehta-Parmar is the Conservative mayoral candidate

I am Watford born and bred and am so proud of our wonderful, diverse town and its history and heritage. Watford has made me who I am and I am passionate about its potential as a fantastic place to live. But I am increasingly worried about the direction Watford is taking under its current leadership.

The Liberal Democrats are making mistakes that will blight our town for years to come. Having been in power for two decades, they have no one else to blame for their decisions. Our pleasant county market town is becoming increasingly urbanised. Without determined action, we will just be absorbed into the greater London sprawl.

I have a plan to stop this before it is too late. We must defend our green belt and stop the blighting of our skyline with ‘Taylor’s Towers’ – largely expensive high-rise flats without the necessary infrastructure – and instead move to sustainable, low-rise, high-density affordable housing in the centre of town with complementary services.

Read more: Candidates clash over development at Watford mayoral hustings

Working closely with our MP, Hertfordshire County Council, our Police and Crime Commissioner and national government, my key manifesto pledges are: Appropriate development, not over-development; Taxing less and spending better; Backing local businesses and saving Watford Market; Making Watford a centre of Health Excellence; Excellent policing and safer streets, and; Safeguarding and improving the local environment.

I hope you will back this plan on Thursday, May 5 and support me in the election to become Mayor of my hometown of Watford.

Find out more at WatfordMayor2022.co.uk

Liberal Democrat - Peter Taylor

Peter Taylor is the Liberal Democrat candidate

I love living in Watford and it has been a huge honour to serve as the town’s Mayor since 2018. I know how important it is to work with others to make a positive difference.

Since I was elected, I have worked hard to deliver on the promises that I made. That’s included:

• Investing in our parks - so we now have 17 green flag parks and the fantastic new facilities at Oxhey Activity Park.

• Introducing the popular Beryl bikes.

• Keeping Watford’s share of council tax increases below inflation, with the lowest increases in the county for the past two years.

The last two years have been so difficult, but the generous and kind-hearted response of local people in response to the pandemic has been inspiring. The work of representing local people and speaking up for the community has never been more important, especially when we are facing the cost of living crisis.

Watch: See our hustings on Facebook by clicking here

With my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I am committed to continuing the battle against unfair housing targets imposed on Watford by the Conservative government. We should be able to make decisions based on local circumstances – not be dictated to by government ministers who don’t know our area!

If I am re-elected as Watford’s mayor my priorities will be: securing investment in new facilities at Watford General, cutting congestion, investing in our parks and planting 20,000 trees, fighting the unfair housing targets and making sure that we keep council tax as low as possible, never increasing it by more than inflation.