Susan Hall, a born and bred Londoner, shares her journey from beauty salon owner to Conservative politician running for London mayor. Topics discussed include daring school days, challenges in local politics, social media scrutiny, women's safety in London, working with a Labour government, and support for Rishi Sineka.
Susan Hall's rise in Tory politics was driven by her focus on fiscal responsibility and saving taxpayers' money.
Susan Hall's key focus is women's safety in London, emphasizing the need for a stronger police presence and rebuilding trust in the force.
Deep dives
Susan Hall's rise in Tory politics
Susan Hall, born and bred in London, has had a remarkable rise in Tory politics. From working in a garage to owning a beauty salon and hairdressing business, Hall's interest in politics was sparked by her father's belief in hard work and creating a better life. After starting as a councillor in Harrow, she quickly climbed the ranks to become the leader of the Conservative Group on the council. Hall's focus on fiscal responsibility and saving taxpayers' money drove her political career. As the selected Conservative candidate for the 2024 London mayoral election, Hall aims to bring her direct and decisive style to the helm of the city.
The challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry
Hall faced challenges as a woman trying to enter technical college and being limited in her career options. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and worked in her father's garage, nurturing her interest in how things work. Eventually, she started her own business in the beauty industry and found success by focusing on the business side of things. Hall's early exposure to politics through her father, combined with her admiration for tough female leaders like Margaret Thatcher, shaped her conservative beliefs and her desire to make a difference in public service.
Concerns over women's safety and the need for effective policing
One of Hall's key focuses is women's safety in London. As a woman herself, she understands the ongoing concerns and experiences of feeling unsafe in the city, especially when walking alone at night. Hall believes that a stronger police presence on the streets, particularly through the re-establishment of neighborhood policing, is essential to address these safety concerns. She also highlights the need to rebuild trust and confidence in the police force, recognizing that the majority of police officers are dedicated and deserving of support. Hall intends to allocate additional funding to the Metropolitan Police to improve their resources and effectiveness.
Critique of current transportation policies and plans for change
Hall strongly opposes the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and its impact on low-income Londoners. She believes that the ULEZ expansion and potential introduction of pay-per-mile schemes disproportionately affect the poorest residents, creating a burden without proper alternatives. Alongside her commitment to cancel the ULEZ expansion, she vows to remove problematic cycle lanes and address the negative consequences of low traffic neighborhood schemes. Hall advocates for greater traffic movement and clearer speed limit regulations to prevent confusion and enhance commuter experience. Her goal is to create a London where residents can move efficiently and enjoy a well-functioning transportation system.
Susan Hall is a born and bred Londoner running for one of the most important jobs in the city. After leaving school at 18 she had dreams of being a mechanic and struggled to get into technical college. She was later a business owner, running a beauty salon and hairdressing business.
Susan has been involved in politics for almost twenty years. Starting out first as a Councillor in Harrow, she later ran the Conservative group before leading the Council itself. In 2017 she joined the General London Assembly replacing Kemi Badenoch. Within two years she was running the Conservative group there too. Her rise in Conservative politics continues, as this year she was selected to be the Conservative candidate for the 2024 London Mayoral election.
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