Shahrar Ali has lived in Brent for 10 years. He chairs the local residents' association and has successfully campaigned to save the green spaces and wildlife of Welsh Harp, put a stop to Asda Wembley lorries from endangering pedestrians, and expose council plans on an unaffordable civic centre which would cost jobs. Ali has a PhD from UCL and teaches philosophy for lifelong learners. He joined the Greens in 2002 after working in the European Parliament and is author of Why Vote Green. In 2008, 9.2 per cent of people in Brent Central voted for him in the GLA election.