Rajiv Sinha is a prospective parliamentary candidate for the Cities of London and Westminster from Green Party. In an interview with Asian Voice, he discussed his entry into politics with the Green Party, strategies used to challenge dominance, and winning over voters and much more.
1) Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to become involved in politics with the Green Party?
As director of a human rights nonprofit, I am a grassroots organiser, activist, and advocate. I campaign for peace through political solutions, believing violence doesn't resolve conflicts. I work mostly but not entirely on the Indian context: against Hindu supremacy, against Islamophobia, against caste, against misogyny, against homophobia, against bigotry of all kinds. Before this I worked in the private sector, focussing on strategy and research at early-stage startups.
I was among the first students taught about the climate crisis in school, which I first encountered in geography classes. This awareness led me to join the Green Party at 21 during university. There, I became aware of broader political and social issues, which I believe are best addressed by the Green Party’s policies.
I've been engaging with residents, organisations, and businesses across the constituency for almost a year. Despite its diversity, common issues arise that I plan to address during and after my campaign. We need real hope and real change. I believe the Green Party best embodies that change.
2) What are the key issues you are focusing on in your campaign for the Cities of London and Westminster?
Right homes at the right price
London is beyond a housing crisis, and not enough has been done to fix it. I’ll focus on increasing the supply of homes for social rent and housing more Londoners securely and quickly, whilst taking more action on damp and mould. So many private renters have told me how insecure their situation can feel – I’ll be on their side. We will set up a Rent Commission to get a better deal and end Section 21 no-fault evictions. We won’t be waiting for powers to be handed down, I’ll make a strong case to the government and do everything within my power, given the urgency of the situation.
Cut daily living costs
Nobody should have to worry about the cost of living or about being priced out of London. I’ll make transport affordable for all, working towards one city-wide, low fare for public transport. I will campaign to bring in free school meals for secondary school students. Greens will also increase universal credit and legacy benefits, scrap the bedroom tax, and introduce a universal basic income, although this would take longer than one parliament.
A safer city
I’ll prioritise police reform. Greens will work to eliminate harm caused by the police and make sure people can report crimes to a service they trust. I'll protect services for young people and not tolerate hate towards anyone. I know many Londoners have been affected by violence in Israel and Palestine. We need to engage different communities, representatives, and institutions to improve our approach to hate crimes and hate speech which have risen since October. On the situation in the Middle East, I will call for an immediate bilateral ceasefire and the release of all hostages as I have been doing since October.
3) How do you plan to engage with and represent the South Asian community in your constituency? What specific issues are particularly important to the South Asian community, and how do you intend to address them?
My life’s work and career are about India and South Asia. I run the British chapter of an organisation that is dedicated to developing a progressive, inclusive, all-loving vision of Hinduism. I also stand resolutely against the persecution of minority Hindus where that takes place; I condemn all bigotry and persecution.
Majoritarian hate politics, the oppression of minorities, and the crushing of dissent cannot be part of a fully functioning liberal democracy. I support the secular, democratic basis of modern India that was put forward by our founding figures and that is enshrined in the Indian constitution.
My pledge to South Asian communities is that I will work to represent you regardless of your religion, ethnicity, caste, gender, sexuality, or any other source of discrimination. You can be confident that I will not bow down to lobbying pressure or threats because that is already the life that I am living. I will also address the issues that South Asians face that are not grounded in South Asian political and social dynamics, such as racism, safety, education, cost of living, public services, and housing here in the constituency and in the UK more broadly.
4) The Conservative Party has historically won in the Cities of London and Westminster. What strategies will you employ to challenge this dominance and win over voters?
The Conservatives are about to experience crushing results in this general election, and that cannot come soon enough. The Conservative Party has failed to take care of our safety, our economy, our reputation, or our welfare. Labour is likely to win this constituency for the first time, but Keir Starmer’s Labour Party does not present much of an alternative to the Conservative Party. Labour has backtracked on their climate pledge, renationalising public services, ending tuition fees, and they remain committed to the cruel two-child benefit cap, just like the Conservatives.
Both parties have also been in the same place on the devastating assault on Gaza that has taken so many lives in response to the horrific atrocities of October 7th. I am proud that the Green Party and I personally have been calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and lasting peace since October. Ensuring the safety of all communities in London is imperative. There is no military solution to this crisis—violence doesn't end violence. We will seek political solutions and recognition of the State of Palestine as part of the path to peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the broader region.
The option for real, progressive change on 4th July is the Green Party. We have a plan, dubbed credible by economists, to raise money for the critical investments we need to start addressing the many crises we face.
5) What qualities do you believe make you well-suited to represent the people of Cities of London and Westminster in Parliament?
I have lived, studied, and worked in the Cities of London and Westminster my entire life. Its residents, communities, and businesses are my friends and support systems. My knowledge and familiarity with the area make me different from other candidates, shipped in to fulfil their party’s strategy. I want nothing more than to represent the people of this constituency, my neighbours.
My daily work involves grassroots organising and intercommunal efforts, bringing people together despite deep conflicts. I regularly attend events, including a series of workshops led by renowned peacebuilders that were instrumental in rebuilding South African society after apartheid, in order to develop my ability to build peace and design widely beneficial economic policies. For this you have to look past differences and build on the commonalities between opposing sides of a conflict. This requires patience, active listening, and a deep understanding of history.
My instincts are grounded in consensus-building, not majority-pleasing. I don’t want to see a single constituent left behind. That is one of the main reasons for my being a member of the Green Party – we are about people and the planet. A Green vote means choosing real change and real hope.
