Liberal Democrats choose Vikas Aggarwal as their candidate for Islington North

Local Liberal Democrats have announced their candidate to challenge Labour at the next General Election. Vikas Aggarwal won the selection vote by party members earlier this month.

At the last General Election, Labour retained the seat, with Liberal Democrats in second. Since then, long-standing MP Jeremy Corbyn has been expelled from the party he previously led, leaving his Labour party colleagues at odds over his future.

Thanking supporters, Vikas said:

“It is a huge honour to be chosen as your candidate here in Islington North. Together, we will work to challenge a divided Labour party. A Labour Mayor, a Labour Council, and formerly a Labour MP, has driven complacency. Islington deserves better than crumbling and unaffordable housing, dirty streets, and rising crime. For too long, Labour have taken Londoners for granted.  

“Meanwhile the Conservative Government has destroyed our economy, trashed our environment, sent children to unsafe schools, and driven up our NHS waiting lists. No more. The Liberal Democrats will stand up for local people in the face of a cost-of-living crisis; we will secure better access to public services; we will work to create safer and stronger communities; and we will fight the lasting damage of a disastrous Brexit deal. The Islington people deserve better.”

Vikas Aggarwal grew up in Medway, the child of Indian migrant parents, and after graduating from university in mechanical engineering and international business, moved to London to pursue a career in public service.

He worked across four Government departments for almost 15 years, including the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Department of International Trade. Since leaving his last government role as a diplomat, Vikas now works in international development and government affairs.

Outside of work, Vikas serves as a Magistrate in South London, where he has seen first-hand the challenges of poor mental health and increasing poverty, and the urgent need to do better for victims and for young people at risk.  In addition, he is a volunteer at a youth centre, a volunteer fire-cadet instructor, and a campaigner for better housing.

Welcoming the selection, local party Chair Dominic Martin said: “Vikas is a passionate campaigner who will stand up for the thousands of Islington residents let down by a Conservative Government and a Labour Council. Every vote for Vikas and the Liberal Democrats is a vote for the positive change we need.”