Andrew Lewin seeking to overturn 10,000-majority to win seat for Labour
The director of communications at the UK’s largest housing association is Labour’s candidate for the seat of Welwyn & Hatfield in Hertfordshire.
Andrew Lewin, who works for 125,000-home association Clarion, is aiming to take the seat from Conservative candidate, the former housing minister Grant Shapps.
Shapps, currently defence secretary, held the role of housing and planning minister from 2010 to 2012 in David Cameron’s coalition government.
Lewin is seeking to overturn a majority of more than 10,000. The website Electoral Calculus currently gives Lewin an 85% chance of taking the seat, when taking into account predicted national swing and boundary changes.
In a campaign video posted this week, Lewin has outlined his five campaigning priorities.
The demand for change in Welwyn Hatfield is loud and clear.
— Andrew Lewin (@Andrew_Lewin_) June 9, 2024
One short video can never capture it all, but as your Labour candidate, here are five of my priorities for making a difference in our community. pic.twitter.com/WskVm4jdNK
He has emphasised Labour’s pledge to lower energy bills through a windfall tax on oil and gas companies and lowering emissions by creating a publicly-owned energy company. He has also said he will support policies designed to attract new shops to the area, improve access to doctors and dentists, provide more visible policing and ensure a free breakfast club for primary schools.
He said: “We need a fresh start. We need a Labour government to turn around our economy, fix our public services and take urgent action on climate change.”
Lewin has worked at Clarion for seven years, first as head of external communications and then, from 2021, as director of communications. If he is unsuccessful in the election he will return to his director of communications role.
During that time Clarion has faced some public criticism. In 2021 it was hit with two severe maladministration judgements prompting the ombudsman to investigate if there are systemic failings at the landlord. However neither the ombudsman nor RSH found systemic failure at the association.
Last month Clarion announced a plan to reorganise the £1bn-turnover association to focus on improved housing management and customer service. It has identified key priority areas, including improving handling of customer enquiries, housing people more quickly and ensuring frontline workers are more visible.
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