Cllr Catherine West announces she is standing down as Leader of Islington Council

Being Leader of Islington Council has been a huge privilege and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the face of the Tory-led government’s unfair attack on inner city areas like ours.

We have shown that a Labour Council, on the side of our community, can make a difference and build a fairer Islington even in these tough times.   

Since Labour won a resounding majority in 2010, my proudest moments have been introducing free school meals for every primary school child in the borough, a Living Wage for all council staff, a bursary scheme to help children from low income families stay in education and taking forward Islington’s biggest affordable house building programme for 30 years.  Our Fairness Commission, looking at how we can reduce inequality and build a fairer society, was the first in the country and it is wonderful to see other councils now establishing their own.

We need a one nation Labour Government standing up for the many not the few and I am stepping down as Leader now so I can focus on winning Hornsey & Wood Green for Labour in 2015.  I have learnt so much over the past 10 years as a councillor and hope to use that experience to bring practical examples of social justice to the national stage.

Islington Labour is full of incredibly talented councillors and I know the group will elect an excellent successor when they meet on 7 October.  In the meantime, I will remain Leader until my successor is formally appointed at the next Council Meeting, and will stay on as a Tollington ward councillor until the end of my term in May 2014.

Thank you to everyone for your support over the years”      

Cllr Catherine West
Saturday 14 September 2013