Independent candidate Philip Baldwin, an LGBTQIA+ activist and social justice campaigner  is running in the City of London local by-election following a resignation that has left a vacant seat.

He is an award-winning presenter, author and columnist has been included in the annual Pride Power List, published in The Guardian, for the past five years and is a trustee of Women and the Church, as well as a member of the Church of England’s General Synod.

Philip says voters want to maintain diverse workplaces in The City of London and is campaigning for equality, inclusion and sustainability, and central to his desired action is to address barriers contuing to face women in senior leadership roles, as well as, for the City to become a go-to destination outside of working hours.

Over the past few weeks he has met with a number of senior City executives and business leaders, and could become one of the most progressive and forward-thinking elected ward representatives for Coleman Street Ward in its history.

Voters have eight candidates to choose from – all running as independents, although many are no strangers to politics or have run previously.

With its deep roots in traditional institutions and ancient governance, and strong ties to the financial sector, the City of London is often viewed as a historic and influential centre. In recent years, organisations across the City have adopted policies supporting diversity, inclusion and LGBTQIA+ equality, and if elected, Philip’s appointment could signal that voters increasingly value representation, equality and social inclusion more than ever.

Speaking to 9AM Business about his candidacy and plans if elected, he said: “It’s been great speaking to voters from the Coleman Street ward, some of them senior business leaders, over the past few weeks and listening to their concerns. The meetings left me feeling hopeful, as they expressed clear commitments around maintaining diverse workplaces within the City of London, but they were also concerned about the world we live in and wanted to ensure that the progress and momentum we have seen in the UK on equalities issues is maintained, as well as a desire for a greener City of London, with clear commitments around tackling climate change. There are still clearly barriers in the City of London for women, when it comes to the most senior level.

“I’m a trustee of Women and the Church (WATCH) and although the Church of England recently appointed Sarah Mullaly as its first woman Archbishop of Canterbury, on the General Synod I have seen, first hand, the open hostility women in senior leadership face from entitled straight white men within an institutional context. There continue to be clear barriers for women working in financial services, with comparatively few women CEOs within the FTSE 100. It would be great for the City of London, which has so many historic and cultural amenities, to truly be a destination over the weekends as well as during the week.”

Phillips adds: “This would be good for residents, businesses and London more broadly. My priorities range from the local, such as continuing existing work around making the City safer at night, to working collaboratively with the existing elected representatives for Coleman Street and the City of London, so that I can influence national policy issues relating to the City of London as I already do with the Church of England on the General Synod.”

By-elections happen when a seat on the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation for a Common Councillor becomes vacant between local elections.

The Coleman Street Ward by-election will be held on Thursday 4 June 2026.