Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat candidate for this year's London Mayoral election, has said whoever wins the election should be willing to work with faith communities to create a better London.
She's been speaking exclusively to Premier as she bids to put a difficult 2015 general election result for her party behind her and replace Boris Johnson at City Hall.
Caroline Pidgeon
Age 43
Member of the London Assembly
Given an MBE in 2013 for public and political service
Launched the one hour bus ticket campaign in 2009
The 43-year-old is well experienced in politics in the capital after spending eight years as a London-wide member of the London Assembly, leading on the issue of transport.
And while transport has been her main point of campaigning over the last eight years, she's put together a plan for London if she was the be elected, including:
- Clean air, zero carbon and zero waste
- More apprenticeships, helping all businesses and growing the digital economy
- Flexible hours for working parents
- Better schools with the Mayor in strategic control
- New affordable homes and a clampdown on rogue landlords
- Keeping London the world's financial and business centre
- A liberal, community-led approach to tackling crime
- Using 8 years' experience at City Hall to keep London moving
She's also told Premier how important she thinks it is to be working with faith groups to create a better London.
"The Mayor needs to work with all faith communities to make sure the policies they're putting in place are meeting everyone's needs.
"That's why I believe in having proper consultative means through City Hall where we talk to different communities, to make sure we are listening to Londoners."
The 2015 general election saw the Liberal Democrats lose their place in government with just 8 MPs remaining in Westminster.
Ms Pidgeon says she's keen to put that behind her.
"I'm not going to pretend it was easy last year. The general election was not our best result.
"This is about London elections. I'm the only candidate who's got 8 years' experience working day in day out for Londoners at City Hall. I've got a fantastic manifesto with very credible policies."
Listen to Caroline Pidgeon speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones: