SOUTHWARK nominated their candidate at the beginning of February. Margot Lindsey is a Defend Council Housing activist.
Margot helped to ensure her estate, the Aylesbury, was kept under council ownership in 2001 during dynamic and well supported campaign against the Liberal Democrat controlled council.
The Aylesbury Estate is one of the largest in Europe and suffers from many of the problems council tenants everywhere are all too familiar with; between 40-50 per cent unemployment, as well as massive lack of investment.
But there are many tenants who feel that demolition to make way for a private development and transfer of tenancies to a registered social landlord will not solve any problems.
Rather this will only add to the growing divisions between rich and poor.
Margot has every chance of winning the seat against Labour, and discussions are still going on as to whether Respect can stand more candidates in Southwark.
Respect activists have been out campaigning on the estate since before Christmas, and are now organising a meeting with George Galloway who is due to speak on the estate on March 25. when discovered in 2003 together with archaeological objects, was the most important find of its kind in the past 50 years and has attracted huge interest.
The campaign against the scheme has enlisted a great deal of support with many people visiting the camp and bringing supplies. The local branches of the Green Party and Respect are involved in supporting Camp Bling. Its residents plan to attract further attention by holding open days for the public and organising public meetings.