Conservatives Confirm Candidates for Key Chiswick Ward

Labour defector Vickram Grewal to join two Gunnersbury incumbents

The Conservative candidates for Chiswick Gunnersbury : Left to right: Cllr Vickram Grewal, Cllr Joanna Biddolph, Cllr Ron Mushiso

December 21, 2025

The Chiswick Gunnersbury Conservative Party has confirmed its candidate team for the May 2026 local elections, selecting sitting councillors Ron Mushiso, Joanna Biddolph, and newly-joined councillor Vickram Grewal to contest the ward.

Ward chair David Mayes said he was “delighted” to welcome Cllr Grewal, who resigned from the Labour Party in November. He previously represented both Cranford and Hounslow Heath wards and had served alongside Cllrs Mushiso and Biddolph on scrutiny committees since 2018. He had reportedly been selected by Labour to contest Chiswick Homefields ward but the Conservatives had already selected their three candidates there.

“Ron and Jo have served as councillors with distinction since 2018,” Mr Mayes said, adding that Cllr Grewal brought “a strong track record” and “motivation to serve the residents of Chiswick Gunnersbury.”

Cllr Grewal said he was honoured to stand with two colleagues he had worked closely with for nearly eight years. He highlighted their joint work on scrutiny panels and their efforts during the pandemic to collect laptops for digitally excluded children.

“If elected, I’m committed to being a strong and responsive voice for all residents and businesses in the ward,” he said.

Cllr Mushiso welcomed Grewal’s selection, describing him as bringing “a wealth of experience and a work ethic that will have an immediate impact.” Cllr Mushiso said his priority remained “delivering for Chiswick Gunnersbury,” citing campaigns on street lighting and community safety.

Cllr Biddolph said she was pleased to be reselected and praised Grewal’s scrutiny work, particularly on housing and environmental issues. She highlighted her work with the Chiswick Shops Task Force, her campaigning on transport schemes including Cycleway 9 and the Gunnersbury Park festivals, and her commitment to “restoring democracy in Hounslow so residents and business ratepayers feel heard.”

In May of this year, the other Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillor Ranjit Gill defected to Labour. He is not defending his existing seat but will be contesting the Osterley and Spring Grove.

Labour has previously announced its three candidates for the ward for next May selecting Aubrey Crawley, Hanif Khan and Maria Saroya. Mr Crawley withdrew his candidacy earlier this month, citing concerns about Labour’s record on LGBTQIA+ rights. No announcement has been made on his replacement. Mr Khan formerly was the Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council where he had responsibility for promoting many of the borough’s active travel schemes. He contested the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward in 2022 and lost by a narrower margin than was expected. After his defeat he also unsuccessfully contested a parliamentary seat for Labour in the last General Election.

Senior figures in both the Labour and Conservative parties in the borough agree that the forthcoming local elections will be unusually hard to predict. With the national vote showing a much lower share for the two traditional parties of government, the Greens, Reform UK and the Lib Dems will be looking to expand their representation in local government.