This May Jesmond residents will have their say in the running of NE2. In the run up to the election, we will meet all the candidates running for council seats in Jesmond. Today, the Labour candidates for North and South Jesmond: Dan Perry and Kerry Allibhai.

Kerry Allibhai – South Jesmond

As Cllr David Hardman steps down from his seat this year, Labour’s selection to replace him is Kerry Allibhai. Allibhai, originally from Blyth, says she has always loved Jesmond: “I feel connected to Jesmond, even when I was living in Blyth I always used to come and walk the dogs in the Dene.”

She has now been living in Newcastle for the past eight years, during which time ran her own café in the city centre as well as working in telecommunications. For the last few years Allibhai has been a full-time mother to her son, but has turned her interest to local politics in Jesmond and hopes to be elected as a councillor in the May elections.

Allibhai’s says she is keen to prove that Jesmond is more than just pubbing and clubbing. “Yes, it’s got a fantastic nightlife scene that should be embraced, but there are some beautiful parts of Jesmond and I think sometimes people aren’t really aware of its full potential.”

She is also focussed on uniting Jesmond residents and sewing up the divide between students and more permanent residents. “When you look at Jesmond you can look at it as a family area or a student area. In a lot of people’s minds it is an ‘either/or’ situation. It would be nice to bring Jesmond together so students are involved and families are involved. Not a case of divide and conquer: just one whole place, everyone working together. If you’re a student – lovely. If you’re a mum – lovely. It doesn’t matter.”

Dan Perry – North Jesmond

Dan Perry is Labour’s candidate for North Jesmond. Perry, who hails from Archway in London, settled in Jesmond over 10 years ago after not wanting to leave following university in Newcastle. Perryhad already played an active role in the community before joining the Labour party as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) ambassador, which takes him to various schools in the area encouraging pupils to develop their skills in these areas. He also helps run the local running club Newcastle Running.

He was motivated to join the party as a result of government cuts. “It sounds almost like a bit of a sound bite or something, but I just think the recession and the way there have been a lot of cuts to people who really can’t afford to have cuts made on those things that they need – services, benefits and things like that – I just thought this is absolutely not on. So I joined the party and I’m really keen to see that sort of stuff put right.“

When asked how he might be a refreshing choice for voters, he replied that he and Allibhai wish to “try and deal in solutions rather than constantly highlighting problems”, with both candidates aware of issues currently affecting locals such as litter, bins, noise, antisocial behaviour and parking.