How did you come to live in Waltham Forest?
Like lots of people I was looking for somewhere I could afford and friends recommended Walthamstow. The question to ask now is why I stay – because I feel at home here.

When did you join the Labour Party?
I joined when I realised Thatcher and her mob weren’t going to go soon unless they were pushed and I felt the Labour Party was beginning to be a credible opposition. That all took longer than I thought it would but I have never regretted joining. Now it’s an important part of my life.

How did you get involved in politics?
My interest in both international political economy and feminism drew me into solidarity work with women workers. I’m on the board of Women Working Worldwide, which I helped set up in 1983. It’s gone on to become a fine organisation that I am proud to be associated with.  Last year I met an old friend and she got me involved again in a campaign for human rights in the Philippines, a cause that deserves much more support than it currently gets.

After I moved to Walthamstow I loved my little house but being affordable and on the Victoria line wasn’t enough to make it a home so I started looking around for things to do. It was the work and reputation of our MP Neil Gerrard that drew me towards our local Labour Party and I soon realised that getting involved in local politics was the way to help improve the community I lived in. 

What's the main thing you want to change in Waltham Forest?
Standards. I want to see the benchmark raised on everything we do – in the private as well as the public sector. The council must take the lead to make Waltham Forest the kind of place people want to live in and businesses want to invest in. This would lift the local economy and improve everyone’s quality of life.

What one thing would you change if you were Prime Minister?
I’d take away the charitable tax status of private schools and put the money into state schools. 

Do you think local government is still important?
More important than ever! The government controls a lot of local spending now so it is important that our elected local representatives work harder and more effectively for us to make sure we get the services and investment we need. 

If your house was burning, what would you try to save?
My sister Mary’s paintings.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Now, being asked to choose among so many. I’d prefer not to think about them, let alone reveal even one.

What is the most unusual casework request you have had?
A young woman was about to lose her job because the date on her birth certificate was wrong. Having given her employer her real birth date she was being accused of dishonesty. It was a very distressing time for her but we got through it and I learned something about irregular birth registrations in other countries.

Where were you on 1 May 1997 (election night)?
After a long but exhilarating day working in a Kent constituency alongside a very funny Swedish journalist I went home concerned I might be late for work the next day if I stayed up too late.  Foolish me!  Bleary eyed and slightly delirious, I actually got to work on time only to find that everyone else was at home asleep.

Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
I’ve not met anyone really famous but the Archbishop of Canterbury once winked at me.