Politicians make way for the new brigade - Almost half of the ruling Lib Dems will stand down

Published: 2 April 2010
BY ROISIN GADELRAB

AT least 14 new faces will troop into Islington Council’s chamber after next month’s election as a raft of well-known councillors step down.

Only 14 of the ruling Lib Dems’ 24 councillors plan to defend their seats. Three Labour councillors are giving up their places and Labour stalwart ­Wally Burgess is leaving St George’s to stand in the Lib Dem stronghold of Canonbury.

The Greens are stepping up their fight, concentrating on Highbury, while the Tories are fielding councillors in every ward, but placing a special emphasis on St Mary’s and St Peter’s.

Eight Lib Dem councillors are stepping down, a further seat is empty after the recent death of Bunhill councillor Donna Boffa and a tenth seat will be vacated by rebel Lib Dem councillor Andrew Cornwell (St George’s).

Of the eight who are not standing again, deputy council leader Lucy Watt (Canonbury) is off to work in the US, leisure chief Ruth Polling (Bunhill) will be travelling round South America – with plans to learn salsa in Buenos Aires – and Meral Ece (Mildmay) will be concentrating on bigger political ambitions.

The others calling it a day are Islington mayor Anna Berent (Mildmay), who is 83, Laura Willoughby (Highbury East), who was elected at the age of 21, Fiona Dunlop (Hillrise), former Lib Dem leader James Kempton (St Mary’s) and Kelly Peasnell (Clerkenwell).

But Lib Dem council leader Terry Stacy said: “I’m not going anywhere. All our councillors who are stepping down have contributed to the success of the council. They have a lot to be proud of and it’s been a pleasure working with them. 

“Some of them were elected young and have other challenges they want to do. I wish them all the best for the future.”

He warned that Islington had not seen the last of Cllr Ece, who defected to the Lib Dems when she was Labour deputy leader in Hackney. “Meral’s one to watch,” he said. “She will go very far.”

For Labour, Natasha Chatterjee (Holloway), Daniel Hulls (Tollington) and Lisa Spall (Caledonian) are not standing again.