On 25 June 2026, residents in the North Acton ward will vote in a by-election to choose who represents them at Ealing Council.
EALING.NEWS has asked all candidates standing to become a councillor, 7 questions about who they are, what they hope to deliver and why they want residents to vote for them.
Here’s what Abdi Ahmed, standing for Liberal Democrats in North Acton has to say:
Tell us a bit about yourself, your priorities for the North Acton ward and why you want to be councillor?
I have lived in the borough all my life. I currently work for a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, focusing on issues such as local government finance, public services and cost-of-living pressures. I want to work to ensure crime is reduced and that residents feel safe on our streets. I will work closely with the police, council and local residents to tackle anti-social behaviour and address community safety concerns. There is frequent and targeted fly-tipping occurring in North Acton, and the Labour-run council has cut deep cleans of Acton streets. I will work to ensure our streets are kept clean and well maintained, and will carry out regular visits and monitoring across the ward to ensure fly-tipping, litter and environmental neglect are more rapidly dealt with.
I want to be a councillor because I believe North Acton needs a fresh start. Resident have been taken for granted by Ealing Labour, and now the sole Green Pary councillor resigned after just 10 days on the job. This by-election is costing borough taxpayers £40,000. We need change, but this must be responsible change. We need somebody from the community who will be accountable to residents, not manoeuvring for positions on the local council. I will scrutinise the Council on behalf of residents to get a better deal for North Acton. I will utilise my experience in Parliament to hold the Council to account, to get answers and solutions for residents and to fight against ill-advised policies, such as Ealing Labour’s threats to close 10 children’s centres, including Maples Children’s Centre.
I understand how the council’s failures affect the wellbeing of residents because I have experienced many of these challenges myself. I was just five months old when my family came to this borough as refugees. I know what it is like to live to feel ignored by the council, to struggle with rising rents and council tax bills, and to be unfairly treated. These experiences have shaped who I am and given me a deep understanding of the challenges many local people face every day.
This taught me that optimism and community is the only thing we have. My politics is a politics of inclusivity, of community, and of service. There is an old motto that states “I am who I am because somebody loved me”, and, after all, love is one of the only things truly worth fighting for. I believe we need representatives who embody this loving spirit. I often reflect on the children, including those with SEND needs being failed at school every day, the families struggling to make ends meet, the pensioners having to suffer the indignity of a failed social care system, the young people suffering mental health crises and all ordinary people trying to improve their lot but faced by set back after set back. It would be an honour for me to fight like hell on their behalf and get a better deal for them.
What motivates you?
I am motivated by the belief that the situation we find ourselves in is not the only one available to us. I know how effective representation can change the outcomes for particular wards. I recall the Ernest Hermingway quote “the world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places”. My life experiences have shown me how important it is to have public figures that express a relentless desire to help those who have been broken by this world. That is at the heart of my approach. I know what it’s like to feel unseen and be counted out. I am motivated by the opportunity to take all my residents concerns to Ealing Town Hall, and represent them, without fear, prejudice or favour. I will not stand silent as Ealing Labour presides over mismanagement and failure.
I am also inspired by the dictum that I am not free until my community is free, I am not well-off until my neighbours are well-off. I don’t want to move; I want to improve. I, like many residents, have had enough of power-hungry local politicians looking for cushy council positions using this area and borough as a stepping stone – leaving us to pick up the pieces.
What is your own personal connection to either North Acton or any other part of the borough?
I grew up in the borough and have lived in the area all my life. I went to Grange Primary School in South Ealing and Drayton Manor High School in Hanwell. I have been to mosques in Acton, played non-league football, spent time with friends and family across Acton and the borough, and seen first-hand both the strengths of our communities and the challenges residents face. This borough has shaped who I am, which is why I am passionate about giving back and standing up for local people.
What do you consider to be your 3 top political, work or personal achievements and what impact have they had?
Political – Standing in East Acton last month. I met remarkable people from all backgrounds, including many who felt politics had nothing to offer them or who had stopped engaging altogether. On polling day alone, I walked more than 33,000 steps, speaking to residents and helping get people out to vote. It was one of the most rewarding things I have done. It gave me a real insight into the issues people face every day, and I have befriended some of the residents I met on the doorstep. What struck me most was how many people felt ignored by those in power and had simply given up on being. Taking the time to listen showed me how much people value having someone who genuinely cares about their concerns.
Work – Nearly two years working in Parliament, supporting my Member deliver for constituents by drafting oral questions, written questions and speeches, tabling amendments, parliamentary motions and private members bills, as well as engaging with Ministers, government departments, charities, businesses and local campaign groups. Through this work, I have helped raise important issues in Parliament, hold the Government to account and secure answers and action on matters affecting local people and communities.
Personal – Conducting fieldwork in Somalia for my Master’s dissertation on food insecurity, where I interviewed people living in an internally displaced persons camp in Mogadishu. It remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
What do you consider to be the top 3 challenges North Acton ward?
Dirty streets and fly-tipping – I will work with residents, community groups and the Council to tackle fly-tipping hotspots, improve street cleanliness and ensure reports are dealt with quickly. Residents deserve clean, well-maintained streets and public spaces they can take pride in.
Crime, anti-social behaviour and safety – I will work with residents, the police and local organisations to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, ensuring North Acton is a safe place to live, work and raise a family. We need greater police visibility and crime prevention initiatives.
An unresponsive Council – The Council must be responsive and accountable to residents. Local people feel their views are ignored and that consultation exercises are little more than a box-ticking exercise. We need genuine engagement with residents and greater transparency in decision-making. We can improve local services by ensuring residents’ voices are reflected in the decisions that affect their communities.
What do you love about North Acton ward and the borough of Ealing?
This borough has always been my home. I love its people, its diversity and its strong sense of community. What makes North Acton special is that each area has its own distinct character and identity, yet there is so much that brings us together. I love the borough’s undisputed place as the Victorian Queen of the Suburbs, its beautiful parks and green spaces, the rose gardens and the care residents put into their front gardens. I love the independent shops, cafés and local businesses that give our neighbourhoods life and character, and the fact that people from all backgrounds and walks of life call North Acton home. Above all, I love the generosity, resilience and community spirit of the people who make this area such a special place to live.
How accessible will you be to North Acton ward residents and how can they get in contact with you now and if elected how will you ensure you are accessible to them in the future?
I will hold monthly surgeries, walk my ward regularly and will always be available on my mobile phone and email. I will also attend residents meetings, ward police panels and other events. I will be a very familiar face!
Click here for all North Acton ward by-election candidates standing.
