In our third interview ahead of the local election, Khalid Sadur tells James Cracknell that Enfield Community Independents are pushing hard to win in Edmonton

Enfield Community Independents out on the campaign trail in front of a giant billboard promoting Khalid Sadur in Upper Edmonton

Enfield Community Independents (ECI) – a group of left-wing activists closely aligned to Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party – are very clear on their key objective for the local election.

“We want to remove the leader of the council [Ergin Erbil] from Edmonton Green ward,” explains Khalid Sadur, an accountant who founded ECI two years ago.

“This is our number one target, we are absolutely pushing it and are committed to this – we are spending a huge amount of resources and a lot of time in Edmonton Green.”

Referencing the famous toppling of a Conservative cabinet minister in Enfield Southgate nearly 30 years ago, Sadur adds: “We want to have that Portillo moment. We want that image of the leader not being able to stand because he has lost his seat.

“The dissatisfaction with Labour is widespread. What better way to show that than removing the council leader?”

But Sadur then clarifies: “I don’t want this to be a personal campaign, we are not indulging in personal attacks […] we are targeting the leader as he is a figurehead of Enfield Labour.”

And what is it about Enfield Labour that Sadur dislikes? “There is one word here – incompetence. Incompetence in running the administration.”

Sadur moved to Enfield in 1978 and has lived in the borough ever since, mainly in Upper Edmonton, the ward where he’s standing. But how did he end up launching ECI?

“I reached a stage, certainly before the general election last year, where it was a question of the tipping point being reached.

“It really hit home at that election. The two main parties – Labour and the Tories – were effectively the same, and a lot of people felt disenfranchised. I wasn’t going to vote in 2024 because there was nothing to vote for. But we made a decision to do something different, and that’s how we [ECI] were born.

“We wanted to provide a real alternative for people who want to be grounded in the community and provide a voice for those people.”

As well as ousting Cllr Erbil, and potentially electing enough councillors to hold the balance of power, Sadur wants more people involved with local politics. “I want community engagement, I want this campaign to bring people in so they feel they have a say,” he explains.

“Enfield Council touches a lot of our lives, not just the rubbish but the schools, Send [special needs] provision, social care, housing, so we want this campaign to be something everyone gets involved in – so people understand the importance of it.

“Community engagement is massive for us, and if it results in a higher turnout then we have done our job.”

In terms of policies, ECI’s platform is similar to that of the Green Party, but perhaps with a slightly tougher line on low-traffic neighbourhoods, promising a “comprehensive review” of their effectiveness and being “led by the evidence”.

Sadur also describes cuts to council tax support for disabled people in 2024 as “horrendous” and says: “We have to look after our vulnerable people. It can’t be the case that we can’t afford to look after them. So we will look to bring the council tax support back for disabled people.

“Labour is blaming the Tories for those cuts – but ultimately they chose where the cuts were made.”

ECI aren’t standing in every ward, but have formed a pact with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. Between them, they will cover 17 out of 25 wards.

In terms of the relationship with Your Party, Sadur says: “Your Party is officially endorsing local community independent groups like ECI. We are campaigning with Your Party, we will be sharing communications with Your Party – so people will have no misconceptions on where we stand.”

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