Introducing the first female Chinese candidate for the London Assembly

With just 2 months to go, 5th May will see Londoners excitedly choose their successor to Boris Johnson as the next mayor of London. This election, however, will not only reveal the new mayor, but will also see fourteen constituency and eleven list London Assembly Members either elected or re-elected.

Set up in 2000, the London Assembly is an elected body which has power over policing, transport, housing, planning and the environment. The twenty-five elected members have the role of scrutinising the mayor's policies and representing Londoners. Assembly Members are elected through the Additional Member System.

A lot is at stake. Excitement and celebration could occur but for a slightly different reason.

The first female ethnic Chinese person standing for election for the London Assembly

London Assembly history was made when a political party adopted Merlene Toh Emerson (杜淑真) as their candidate for an Assembly Member.

Merlene, who is the candidate for the Liberal Democrats, is the first female ethnic Chinese person standing for election for the London Assembly. She has been selected as number three on the London wide list and has a strong possibility of being elected if 10% of the vote goes to the Liberal Democrats (names are not on the ballot paper but the party the candidate represents).

Read the full article here:

http://www.neehao.co.uk/2016/03/merlene-toh-emerson-london-assembly-first-female-chinese-candidate/