Former Labour then independent councillor for Brentford West ward, Lara Parizotto, has released a statement after stepping away from Hounslow Council.

Parizotto made the move to leave her cllr duties yesterday (18 March) as the council announced a Brentford West ward by-election on 2 May 2024.

In a statement via X, Parizotto, reflects on her tenure since being elected in May 2022, expressing gratitude for the privilege to represent residents and the opportunity to support them.

She wrote: "To all residents of Brentford West, council colleagues, community members, and beyond, I have resigned as a councillor in the London Borough of Hounslow.

"Getting elected in May 2022 was a great privilege and a proud result of months of hard campaigning work with colleagues and friends who came to support my candidacy.

"Since getting elected, it has been an honour to have represented residents of Brentford West and supported so many people with their often life-changing cases.

"The results we have achieved together are evidence of the passion and commitment people have for creating a better, safer, and fairer future for themselves and their neighbours.

"Whether that has been discussing improvements to local infrastructure, organising community events, or working on new policies, I have seen only the best in people's interests.

"Being a councillor has not only meant a lot to me personally but has also been an important point of community representation."

The former Labour cllr pledges to not end her commitment to community representation and activism, particularly advocating for marginalised groups and empowering residents to engage in local politics.

She continues: "Since getting elected, I've had the amazing chance to engage with Brazilian and other migrant residents across the UK who got informed and encouraged for the first time ever to register to vote, learn about their council, and even consider standing for elections themselves.

"This is core to why I wanted to get elected. Not only to passively represent but to actively talk about matters affecting marginalised people and build shared power from the ground up.

"This duty of direct support, representing communities, and fighting for social justice began before I got elected and it will certainly not end now.

"From mutual aid groups to immigration casework, from food banks to direct action, I remain confident that people-powered movements and communities is where our strength is."

Parizotto also mentions former colleagues in her statement who worked alongside her and helped shape her career in local politics - particularly former ward partner Cllr Guy Lambert.

She adds: "I have so much to thank: residents for their trust, council officers for their actions, and my elected council colleagues in Hounslow for their collective commitment and joint work.

"I am proud of what we achieved together and for our collaborative work in favour of residents. I am especially grateful to Guy Lambert for being my friend, greatest council mentor, and my champion."

Despite leaving the Labour party in October 2023 due to 'personal and work reasons', Parizotto says she will stay on as councillor and fulfil her role until the next Brentford West cllr is elected.

"A lot has changed for me in the last few months, including me leaving the Labour Party. Due to personal and work reasons, I am no longer able to offer my full commitment to residents as a councillor.

"Nonetheless, I am forever championing Brentford.

"I am working with dear council colleagues to ensure no casework goes unresolved. I am confident residents will receive great support until another committed councillor gets elected in my place," she says.

Councillor Guy Lambert says

In reaction to Parizotto's decision to leave Hounslow Council, Cllr Lambert told Nub News: "I am very sorry to lose my ward partner Lara as a councillor.

"She has been, and I hope she will remain a very good friend as she has been a very active and capable councillor, including in the period when she had resigned from the Labour party and worked as an independent.

"Lara is herself an immigrant, though now a British citizen and her day job is as Executive Director of the Migrant Democracy Project of which she is a founder.

"This project encourages migrants to engage with our democracy, something which is close to her heart.

"The rights of oppressed people is at the top of her personal agenda and she felt obliged to support the habitants of Gaza, and felt she could not support the Labour party's approach to their plight.

"More recently, she decided not to continue longer as a councillor and decided to focus her energies on her work with migrants.

"All of these decisions were taken with admirable integrity and courage.

"I will miss her friendship, warmth, industry and capability and whomever is elected on 2 May will have a challenging task to replace her."

Cllr Lambert adds: "Fortunately there are excellent candidates in the Labour party and I will be supporting the Labour candidate, when selection has been undertaken.

"I wish Lara every success in the future, as her talent and character deserve, and I thank her for her professional and personal support – working with her has been a privilege."

To read Parizotto's original resignation statement, click here.

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