Crofton Park

Parliamentary Candidate: Gemma Townsend

Gemma is a native Londoner, who grew up in Wapping in the East End. Since graduating from the University of Manchester where she studied Sociology, she has lived all over London including Deptford where she was a candidate in the 2006 local elections. Gemma has been the Conservative Association Deputy Chairman in Deptford since the beginning of 2007.

Currently Gemma works for the GLA dealing with policing and crime issues for the Conservative Assembly Members, where she works closely with the Deputy Mayor for Policing. She has previously worked in a number of social policy and research roles for Southwark Council, Ofsted and Populus.

Over the years Gemma has been proud to have had an impact on policies to improve standards in education, youth crime, housing, health and social care and has learnt a great deal from a wide range of practitioners in the field. She has been volunteering with her local youth offending team since spring 2007 and also volunteers with the charity Age Concern.

Gemma is particularly concerned by the levels of violent crime in Lewisham. She will also be campaigning on regeneration, transport and education. Having worked in local government, Gemma is adamant that local authorities could be more resourceful and provide significantly better services, she will ensure her campaign holds Lewisham Council to account.

Read more about Gemma.

Kate Allen:

Kate has lived in Lewisham for 13 years and is an advertising manager for a national newspaper.  She is interested in improving the local community through neighbourhood watch, better upkeep of streets, and greater visibility of police in the area.  Her main priorities are tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, and creating a community where people feel safe.  Kate is a keen golfer and yoga practitioner at the Sunflower Centre.

David Furze:

David was born and lived in the borough of Lewisham all his life.  He was educated at John Stainer Primary and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham Boys’ School – Now Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College. He is a former London bus driver at New Cross Bus Garage and now employed by Transport for London as an Inspector.  He is also a former governor of Brockley Primary School and former member of The Telegraph Hill Neighbourhood Council.

He has been an active member of The Lewisham Deptford Conservatives since 1987 and former Association Chairman.  He contested Crofton Park Ward (old boundaries) 1994, Telegraph Hill Ward 2002 & Telegraph Hill By-Election 2003, and Ladywell Ward 2006.  His priorities are: Crime reduction and safer streets, health care provision – retention of full A&E services at Lewisham Hospital, improved recycling and a clamp down on fly tippers.

Michael Rutherford:

Michael Rutherford is a Conservative party candidate in Crofton Park Ward, covering part of Brockley and Honor Oak Park. He is a management consultant for a large professional services firm.

Michael is the chairman of Lewisham Deptford Conservatives and has been running the party’s campaign in the constituency alongside the local parliamentary candidate Gemma Townsend.

If elected a councillor, Michael will fight to make Crofton Park a better place to live. He backs Boris Johnson’s campaign to improve London’s green spaces and will campaign for investment on streets to  bring more trees and fewer potholes.