On 7 May 2026, residents in the Ealing Common ward will vote 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 Haitham Idriss, standing as an independent candidate in Central Greenford, has to say:
Tell us a bit about yourself, your priorities for the ward and why you want to be councillor for Central Greenford?
I am not a career politician; my background is in science. I am not a member of any political party, and I am standing as an independent, non‑partisan candidate for Central Greenford.
I decided to put myself forward after hearing the sad news that our councillor, Dr Aysha Raza, had passed away. She was also a scientist and taught neuroanatomy at UCL. During the last election she was canvassing on my street, and I joked with her that I might be canvassing my own candidacy next time. This year, on the very last afternoon before nominations closed, I managed to do exactly that. My priority is simple: to make Central Greenford a genuinely safe, fair, affordable, and great place to raise a family.
What motivates you?
What motivates me most is my family’s long experience of displacement and the values it taught us. My parents were forced to leave Palestine for Lebanon in 1948, and I was later displaced from Lebanon to the UK in 1982. My wife, who is now British, was deported from London to Damascus just four months after giving birth to our son. These events shaped my understanding of fairness, dignity, and the need for stable, supportive communities.
I am also driven by a personal question that has followed me for more than twenty years: why, despite my qualifications and experience, I have not been able to secure a position as a research scientist or lecturer in the UK. This has strengthened my commitment to transparency and equal opportunity.
A saying that guides me is: “Knowledge and work are twins, and their mother is enduring stamina.”
What is your own personal connection to either Central Greenford or any other part of the borough?
My connection to Central Greenford began in 1982, when I came to London from Beirut for a family visit and, following the events in Lebanon that year, became a Palestine refugee in the UK. My brother bought a house in Central Greenford which became my home. I rebuilt my life here, grew into this community, and have remained rooted in the same neighbourhood ever since (save six years between the USA and Scotland). That experience shapes my belief that our ward should continue to be a safe and welcoming place for anyone who finds themselves stranded, starting over or seeking stability in London.
What do you consider to be your 3 top political, work or personal achievements and what impact have they had?
1. Becoming a UK citizen and a scientist after being born stateless to refugee parents. This remains one of my most significant achievements. It taught me perseverance and strengthened my belief in fairness, opportunity, and the value of education.
2. Getting married and raising children. Building a stable family life has grounded me and taught me responsibility. It has deepened my commitment to making Central Greenford a place where families feel secure, supported, and able to thrive.
3. 3. Providing lifelong care for my late mother. My mother moved from Beirut in 1981 and lived with me in the family house in Central Greenford — even after I got married and had children — until she passed away in 2018. My siblings also contributed to her care. Caring for her throughout her life shaped my understanding of dignity, responsibility, and the importance of family support.
What do you consider to be the top 3 challenges Central Greenford faces and how will you as a councillor address them?
1. Independent, resident‑focused representation. A key challenge is having councillors who act independently of party interests. As an independent councillor, I would focus solely on what benefits Central Greenford, scrutinising decisions and ensuring residents’ voices guide sensible local priorities.
2. Rising cost of living, especially housing. High rents and property prices put pressure on families. I would push for fairer, more transparent housing policies and challenge developments that fail to meet local needs.
3. Public health awareness. Issues like alcohol harm, gambling and obesity affect community wellbeing. I would support practical, prevention‑focused initiatives with local services and community groups.
What do you love about Central Greenford and the borough of Ealing?
Central Greenford — and Ealing as a whole — hold a special place in my heart because they became the gathering point for my immediate family. None of it was planned. Some of us arrived for work, some were forced here by the events of 1982 in Lebanon or the 1990 crisis in Kuwait, and others crossed the Atlantic to start again in the UK. But for all of us, the journey began in the same house in Central Greenford. This neighbourhood has been our constant: a place of safety, continuity, and new beginnings.
How accessible will you be to Central Greenford 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 be fully accessible to Central Greenford residents. You can already reach me by email at drhi2@hotmail.com. If elected, I will have a dedicated mobile number so residents can contact me directly through WhatsApp or Telegram. I will also hold monthly local surgeries in community centres, giving people the chance to speak with me in person about any concerns or ideas.
Click here for all Central Greenford candidates standing.
Full coverage of the 2026 Ealing Council local elections and candidates standing can be found here.
