Leader of new party bidding to takeover Kensington and Chelsea Council says Londoners will accept tax rise to solve housing crisis

Annabel Mullin of Advance wants to give residents a greater say and believes they’re ready to pay more tax to tackle housing. She tells the Evening Standard of her plans to go national
New party: Annabel Mullin
Pippa Crerar10 November 2017
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The leader of a new political movement attempting to take over Tory-run Kensington & Chelsea in the wake of the Grenfell fire today claimed residents would be prepared to see council tax rise to tackle the borough’s housing problems.

Annabel Mullin says her Advance party will in return deliver “meaningful change” to the way local politics works after next May’s borough elections, by giving residents a more direct say.

She accepts that government cuts have become a fact of life for town halls but says her party will be more creative about making efficiencies.

In an interview with the Standard, she said: “There are ways of raising money. You could increase the council tax. People wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to that, I believe. I think generally people feel they can afford it.”

Ultimately, she wants ministers to look at re-banding council tax nationally. Advance will field at least one candidate in each of K&C’s 18 wards.

“We hope the community will feel that this is a vehicle for them to come forward,” she said.

Grenfell Tower aftermath - In pictures

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They are Remainers at heart and hope to attract the one in four voters in the borough who are EU nationals. Ms Mullin, 39, believes that, if successful, the movement could be franchised across the country.

Advance has already elicited comparisons with French president Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche! party. One supporter was a key backer of the French president.

“I don’t mind if people make associations but that’s not what we’re about,” she said.

“The whole point of Advance is about striving for change, striving for action. There’s also hope there.”

The magistrate and former policewoman will not be standing in the local elections herself (she has a PhD in criminology to finish) but promises she’s in for the long haul.

She would hand over to one of her deputies if the party wins seats.

Ms Mullin ran for the Lib Dems in Kensington in June - more than doubling the party’s vote and aiding Labour’s shock win — but became disillusioned with institutional politics.

She set up Advance with former Independent editor Simon Kellner, now party chairman, after reading an article he had written. She recognises the challenge. “Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a very, very difficult task.”

Advance is not registered as a political party yet, although it intends to be fully fledged before May. It held a big launch event in the borough on Wednesday night and has raised £15,000 in donations so far.

Unlike mainstream parties, it will not run on a manifesto because “everyone breaks them anyway”. However, housing will be a key focus. Ms Mullin, who volunteered after the Grenfell fire, accepts that the housing of its victims is “massively complex” but believes the handling of individual families has been “pretty poor”.

She denies that by picking K&C — where she was brought up and still lives — the party is politicising the tragedy. “That’s not what this is about. Grenfell has happened and we’re very much about trying to make it better.” Advance is looking at replacing K&C’s Tenant Management Organisation, responsible for 10,000 homes, with community land trusts or listing it to attract private investment. Other ideas include air filtration systems in schools and more cycle lanes, campaigning to save Notting Hill police station and offering a referendum on creating a mayor.

Ms Mullin predicts the Tories will fall. “It’s an entrenched Tory area ... but I think they expect to lose it.”

Won’t the town hall then go to Labour?

“It will be a tough campaign because I believe Labour feel that they’re going to have the pitch for themselves. This is going to upset that.”

Advance has been holding “tentative discussions” with a group of independents, who could play a key role. Ms Mullin said: “I don’t know how success is defined, but if we change the conversation, that’s pretty successful. My expectation is that we’ll do better than that and we’ll have people making the difference in the council, come May.”

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