Polling Stations

• Kennet Island Community Centre
• Christ the King Church Hall
• Whitley Wood Community Centre
• 100 Longwater Avenue
• South Reading Leisure Centre

2022 Candidates

Femi Afolabi, Conservative

Femi lives in Whitley and is a telecommunications consultant who is currently Director of Fern Technologies Limited. Femi has a keen interest public affairs, advanced technologies and human relations. Femi is standing in Whitley as he is passionate about changing his community for the better.

Nick Brown, Conservative

Nick has lived in Whitley for over 30 years. He is married and a professional working in the broadcasting industry. Nick is standing in Whitley as he believes that he can add real value to Whitley and be a positive, local voice on Reading Borough Council.

Rachel Eden, Labour

Rachel was first elected as a councillor for Whitley ward in 2010. She is the founder of a local accountancy practice working primarily with charities and Reading-based small businesses.

 

A mum of two, Rachel is passionate about ensuring every young person in Whitley has the best start in life.

 

Rachel has served as both the council’s lead councillor for Housing and for Adult Social Care.  She is currently the Mayor or the Borough of Reading.

Vani Goel, Conservative

Vani lives in Reading with her family and runs a local business in Whitley.

Micky Leng, Labour

Whitley is Micky Leng’s home and where he has lived with his wife and brought up his 2 boys for 27 years.  He is a sub-contract carpenter in the building trade. You will often see him walking his dog in South Whitley Park – where they also enjoy meeting lots of residents – and their dogs.

 

Micky was elected in 2019 by the good people of Whitley and is honoured to have been chosen to represent Whitley Ward for the Labour Party again.

 

Micky promises to continue working hard for Whitley residents – being the voice between the Council and you. He will continue with his commitment to the Labour Party and to you, to better facilities, better parks, cleaner streets, accessibility, inclusivity and good quality affordable housing for Whitley and for Reading.

 

Micky is, and will continue to be, responsive and answerable to you in person, by email and by phone and on his doorstep. And he will continue to work hard for you and with you to make bad things good, and good things even better.

Alice Mpofu-Coles, Labour

Alice has lived in Whitley for almost 20 years and woven heself into the fabric of community life – both in work, volunteering and as a trustee for several charities. She has two adult daughters who grew up in Reading and is a former Social Worker who currently works as a Researcher.

Alice was first elected as a Labour Party Whitley Ward Councillor in 2021 and recognised the need to strive for better neighbourhoods, education, health, and social care services. She has been a Labour Party member who has thrived on bringing its values of equality and social justice to the fore. She is committed to working with the residents of Whitley Ward and wider Reading. Alice believes it is vital to have strong relationships which lie within the community and to listen, engage and act.

Kathy Smith, Green

Kathy Smith has lived in the Reading area for nine years and has spent the last three years renovating her Edwardian house in Reading with her husband. Kathy has worked supporting children’s services. She spends her spare time growing fruit and vegetables. She also enjoys walking and holidays.

 

Kathy would like to see a fairer, greener, more affordable town. The Reading Green Party mini manifesto for 2022 is here: https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto/

Ian Westby, Lib Dem

Ian Westby is an IT professional, and got into politics out of a desire to create a fairer society. The first step towards this is creating a system of voting where every vote matters at every level of government. In Reading, he feels our greatest concerns are getting affordable housing built, supporting small local businesses to survive and thrive amid the current hardships, and to reduce vehicle emissions throughout the town. If elected, his priorities are getting a fair deal for Whitley residents and services, building the affordable housing we need, where we need it, and protecting our green spaces and woodlands from further development.

2021 result

2019 result

2018 result

2016 result

2015 result