Hackney Central by-election candidates announced after Green councillor resignation

Hackney residents are set to cast their vote once again following the recent local elections after a local councillor quit immediately after winning his seat.

A by-election will take place for Hackney Central on Thursday, June 25 owing to a vacancy created by the resignation of Green Party candidate James Tilden. Mr Tilden won his seat with 1,681 votes but was barred from taking office because his employment as a teacher at a Hackney primary school meant he was ineligible under the Local Government Act 1972.

The party claimed they were aware, as was Mr Tilden, of the issue before he was nominated, by which point it was too late to withdraw his candidacy.

Another by-election will held in Dalston on the same day due to a vacancy created by ward councillor Zoë Garbett’s election as the Mayor of Hackney.

The full list of candidates from the five parties contesting the upcoming by-election have now been confirmed.

Hackney Central: Full list of candidates

Vahid Almasi, Reform UK

Reform’’ Vahid Almasi ran as the party’s candidate in the 2026 Hackney Mayoral election and came in fourth place with 4,013 votes.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he said his main priority as a councillor would be to push for a review of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and traffic restrictions in the borough and demand transparent data on traffic, pollution and emergency vehicle access.

“Many residents support cleaner air and safer roads, but they also expect policies that are fair, evidence-based and work for the whole community,” Mr Almasi said.

“Hackney Council’s own monitoring showed reductions in traffic on some roads but increases on surrounding boundary roads. Many residents continue to raise concerns that traffic has been moved rather than reduced, and these concerns deserve to be properly addressed.”

Serhan Bay, Conservative Party

Conservative candidate Serhan Bay also ran to become a councillor in May for Hackney Downs ward, finishing in seventh place with 200 votes. The party did not provide further information on their candidate for the upcoming race.

Noah Birksted-Breen, Green Party

Creative and researcher Noah Birksted-Breen teaches international relations at Queen Mary, University London and is Associate Governor at Southwold Primary School in Clapton. He also has mentored refugees and runs an independent theatre company, Sputnik.

According to the Greens, Noah has resided in Hackney for 17 years and held his wedding at the Town Hall.

In a statement, the party said: “Noah will work exceptionally hard to realise community-led development, targeted support for ethical local businesses and to introduce a new community skip, making our streets cleaner and better as a place for our communities to mix and spend time.”

Ken Gabbott-Rolph, Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dem candidate Ken Gabbott-Rolph has lived in Hackney for a quarter century and has campaigned on local issues across the borough. He ran as a candidate for Hackney Central at the May elections and came in seventh place with 317 votes.

Mr Gabbott-Rolph said he would take a strong line on regulating Lime Bikes and power-assisted bikes in the borough. Though qualifying that LTNs were “a great idea for a specific problem”, he slammed the council’s approach to the traffic measures as an “unmitigated disaster” and called on the new Green-led council to pause the rollout of similar schemes.

He says he would also push for 50% social housing in the Morning Lane Tesco site redevelopment.

“Consulting local people and acting upon what they tell us comes first and foremost to Liberal Democrats. [We] believe in people power and letting communities make decisions about their own areas. We will seek to hold the new administration to account, in delivering that aspiration,” Mr Gabbott-Rolph told the LDRS.

Sheila Suso-Runge, Labour Party

Sheila Suso-Runge is running to become councillor for Hackney Central once again, having lost her seat to the Greens at the May elections. She was first elected to represent the ward in 2022.

A local resident of Wilton estate, Ms Suso-Runge is a tenant activist and trade unionist. She previously served as the borough’s Speaker, performing ceremonial and public duties including chairing full council meetings.

“I know the place very well and how to get things done at the council,” she said. “My key priorities include supporting young people and SEND families, reducing crime locally, protecting tenants, and supporting local businesses. I will be holding the new council to account as a strong voice for Hackney Central ward residents.”

Key election information

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday, June 9. Applications can be made online. Voters will need to show photo ID when voting in person in this by-election.

Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes or cancellations or amendments of proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, London, E8 1EA by 5pm on Wednesday, June 10. Applications can be made online.

New applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, London, E8 1EA by 5pm on Wednesday, June 17.

Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Electoral Services by 5pm on Thursday, June 25.

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