Voters in Hackney are being urged to send in questions to put to candidates vying to be their new mayor.
Hackney Trades Union Council is planning what is thought to be its first mayoral hustings in Hackney.
Joint secretary Doug Holton said organisers are encouraging unions to submit questions and also want to hear from members of the public.
He said: “We are interested in the kind of issues residents raise.
“We want to hear candidates’ views on the mayoral system – whether they think it should remain or whether it needs some amendments.”
Mr Holton suggested people might want to ask about housing and the “cost of food on our plates”, as well as the insourcing of council services.
The May 2022 election count in Hackney. Photo: LDR Julia Gregory
“We want to encourage people to take an interest in what’s going on in Hackney Town Hall. Residents have a chance to be listened to and action might be taken about their concerns,” he added.
People can send questions to hackneytucouncil@gmail.com.
The date and venue of the hustings will be announced once more is known about the availability of the candidates.
Hackney Cycling Campaign is holding a hustings at the Pembury Centre in Dalston on Wednesday 1 November.
A polling station sign in Hackney. Photo: LDR Julia Gregory
Four people had announced they are standing in the by-election, the Friday 13 deadline to submit nomination papers.
They are Green councillor Zoë Garbett; Labour cabinet member for families, parks and leisure Cllr Caroline Woodley; independent candidate Peter Smorthit; and Liberal Democrat campaigner Simon de Deney.
Hackney is one of 24 areas in England to have a directly elected mayor.
The count at Hackney's council elections in May 2022. Photo: LDR Julia Gregory
The role in Hackney offers an £87,000 annual salary, and the mayor makes policy decisions along with a cabinet of senior councillors.
The by-election on Thursday, November 9 comes after Labour’s mayor Philip Glanville quit last month.
The former borough leader admitted to an “error of judgement” after he was photographed in May 2022 at a party with newly elected councillor Tom Dewey. The event took place just hours after Glanville had been told that Dewey had been arrested by the National Crime Agency over paedophile images.
Dewey was given a 12-month suspended sentence in August this year after admitting five charges of possessing indecent images of children.
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