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Extraordinary, Council - Tuesday, 19th November, 2024 6.30 pm, NEW

November 19, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

Councillor Una O'Halloran was elected as the new leader of Islington Council. She is the first leader of the council to have been born and raised in the borough, and the first to have been a lifelong council tenant. She was elected unanimously by councillors after being proposed and seconded by Labour councillors, and welcomed by councillors from the Green party.

Election of the Leader of the Council

The council voted to elect Councillor Una O’Halloran as the new leader of Islington Council 1.

Councillor O'Halloran has represented the Caledonian ward in Islington since 2010. This is the first time in 38 years that a councillor from a South Islington ward 2 has been elected leader of the council. Councillor O’Halloran is also the first leader of the council to have been born and raised in Islington.

Councillor O'Halloran's election follows the decision of the previous leader, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, to stand down. Councillor Comer-Schwartz had been leader of the council since 2021. Councillor O’Halloran was the sole nominee. In her speech accepting the leadership, Councillor O'Halloran said:

I just want to say to all of you, you've put a lot of trust in me, but it's not about me, it's about all of us. A leader's only as good as her team and I say to the opposition groups as well, we need to work together. We've all got elected to serve residents and I intend to serve whatever's thrown at us.

Councillor O’Halloran’s speech focused on the cost of living crisis and housing. She highlighted the financial pressures facing residents, and reiterated the council's commitment to building new council homes. She said:

We are a small borough, we are about inequality, we are about fairness, but Labour Party is about hope and people need hope.

She also announced that Councillor Bredford Bell would be her deputy leader. Councillor Bell is one of the youngest members of the council. He was first elected in 2022.


  1. The role of the Leader of the Council is to provide political leadership and strategic direction, to ensure that the council is governed effectively and that it delivers high quality services. The Leader of the Council is elected by a vote of all the councillors. More information about the role of the Leader of the Council can be found on Islington Council's website. 

  2. Islington is an inner-city borough in Greater London. It is common to talk about North Islington and South Islington as distinct areas, separated by the Regent's Canal. 

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorSantiago Bell-Bradford
Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford  Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs •  Labour Party •  Mildmay
Profile image for CouncillorValerie Bossman-Quarshie
Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie  Reading Champion •  Labour Party •  Bunhill
Profile image for Councillor Janet Burgess MBE
Councillor Janet Burgess MBE  Carers Champion •  Labour Party •  Junction
Profile image for Councillor Rowena Champion
Councillor Rowena Champion  Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport •  Labour Party •  Barnsbury
Profile image for Councillor Sheila Chapman
Councillor Sheila Chapman  Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion •  Labour Party •  Junction
Profile image for Councillor Jilani Chowdhury
Councillor Jilani Chowdhury  Chair of Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Barnsbury
Profile image for Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner
Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner  Deputy Leader of the Independent and Green Group •  Independent •  Laycock
Profile image for Councillor Tricia Clarke
Councillor Tricia Clarke  Chair of Environment, Climate Change & Transport Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Tufnell Park
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Convery
Councillor Paul Convery  Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Pensions Committee •  Labour Party •  Caledonian
Profile image for CouncillorFin Craig
Councillor Fin Craig  Chief Whip, Labour Group •  Labour Party •  Arsenal
Profile image for Councillor Joseph Croft
Councillor Joseph Croft  Mental Health Champion •  Labour Party •  St Mary's and St James'
Profile image for Councillor Troy Gallagher
Councillor Troy Gallagher  Labour Party •  Bunhill
Profile image for Councillor Mick Gilgunn
Councillor Mick Gilgunn  Labour Party •  Tollington
Profile image for Councillor Satnam Gill OBE
Councillor Satnam Gill OBE  Labour Party •  Tufnell Park
Profile image for CouncillorPhil Graham
Councillor Phil Graham  Independent •  Bunhill
Profile image for Councillor Benali Hamdache
Councillor Benali Hamdache  Leader of the Independent and Green Group •  Green Party •  Highbury
Profile image for Councillor Ruth Hayes
Councillor Ruth Hayes  Assistant Whip, Labour Group •  Labour Party •  Clerkenwell
Profile image for Councillor Gary Heather
Councillor Gary Heather  Recycling Champion •  Labour Party •  Finsbury Park
Profile image for Councillor Sara Hyde
Councillor Sara Hyde  Chair of Standards Committee •  Labour Party •  Caledonian
Profile image for Councillor Bashir Ibrahim
Councillor Bashir Ibrahim  Labour Party •  Arsenal
Profile image for Councillor Jason Jackson
Councillor Jason Jackson  Chair of Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee & Deputy Mayor •  Labour Party •  Holloway
Profile image for CouncillorClare Jeapes
Councillor Clare Jeapes  Labour Party •  Canonbury
Profile image for Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong
Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong  Green Party •  Highbury
Profile image for CouncillorJenny Kay
Councillor Jenny Kay  Private Renters Champion •  Labour Party •  Mildmay
Profile image for Councillor Roulin Khondoker
Councillor Roulin Khondoker  . •  Labour Party •  Arsenal
Profile image for CouncillorAnjna Khurana
Councillor Anjna Khurana  Mayor of Islington. •  Labour Party •  Tollington
Profile image for Councillor Martin Klute
Councillor Martin Klute  Chair of Planning Committee •  Labour Party •  St Peter's and Canalside
Profile image for Councillor Ben Mackmurdie
Councillor Ben Mackmurdie  Labour Party •  Clerkenwell
Profile image for CouncillorHannah McHugh
Councillor Hannah McHugh  Equalities Champion •  Labour Party •  St Mary's and St James'
Profile image for Councillor Shreya Nanda
Councillor Shreya Nanda  Labour Party •  Hillrise
Profile image for Councillor Praful Nargund
Councillor Praful Nargund  Labour Party •  Barnsbury
Profile image for CouncillorMatt Nathan
Councillor Matt Nathan  Independent •  Clerkenwell
Profile image for Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo
Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo  Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families •  Labour Party •  Hillrise
Profile image for CouncillorToby North
Councillor Toby North  Labour Party •  St Peter's and Canalside
Profile image for CouncillorRosaline Ogunro
Councillor Rosaline Ogunro  Assistant Whip, Labour Group •  Labour Party •  St Peter's and Canalside
Profile image for Councillor Una O'Halloran
Councillor Una O'Halloran  Leader of the Council. •  Labour Party •  Caledonian
Profile image for CouncillorMichael O'Sullivan
Councillor Michael O'Sullivan  Labour Party •  Finsbury Park
Profile image for Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir
Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir  Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Tufnell Park
Profile image for Councillor Saiqa Pandor
Councillor Saiqa Pandor  Women and Girls Champion •  Labour Party •  St Mary's and St James'
Profile image for CouncillorCaroline Russell
Councillor Caroline Russell  Business Manager, Independent and Green Group •  Green Party •  Highbury
Profile image for CouncillorAsima Shaikh
Councillor Asima Shaikh  Deputy Business Manager, Independent and Green Group •  Independent •  Finsbury Park
Profile image for CouncillorMarian Spall
Councillor Marian Spall  Armed Forces Champion •  Labour Party •  Hillrise
Profile image for Councillor Heather Staff
Councillor Heather Staff  Migrants Champion (Job Share with Cllr Ilkay Cinko-Oner) •  Labour Party •  Laycock
Profile image for CouncillorNurullah Turan
Councillor Nurullah Turan  Labour Party •  Laycock
Profile image for Councillor Diarmaid Ward
Councillor Diarmaid Ward  Executive Member for Finance & Performance •  Labour Party •  Holloway
Profile image for Councillor Nick Wayne
Councillor Nick Wayne  Chair of Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Canonbury
Profile image for Councillor Angelo Weekes
Councillor Angelo Weekes  Executive Member for Community Safety •  Labour Party •  Mildmay
Profile image for Councillor Flora Williamson
Councillor Flora Williamson  Executive Member for Health & Social Care •  Labour Party •  Tollington
Profile image for Councillor John Woolf
Councillor John Woolf  Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods •  Labour Party •  Canonbury
Profile image for CouncillorClaire Zammit
Councillor Claire Zammit  Arts Champion •  Labour Party •  Holloway