LOCAL ELECTIONS 2010: New Labour cabinet makes history - Angela Mason and Tulip Siddiq form part of a female majority at the Town Hall

Published: 20 May 2010
by RICHARD OSLEY

THE new Labour group running Camden Council has revealed who will take the top jobs at the Town Hall – and for the first time in its history more women will have key cabinet roles than men.

Former Mayor Nash Ali will lead the council with his deputy Angela Mason, the former director of Stonewall. Five of the other eight seats around the cabinet table will be taken by women. They are Tulip Siddiq (culture), Sarah Hayward (community development), Pat Callaghan (social services), Heather Johnson (education) and Sue Vincent (environment).

Julian Fulbrook (housing), Abdul Hai (community safety) and Theo Blackwell (finance) complete the set agreed by the group on Saturday.

Jonathan Simpson will be the first mayor of the new administration.

Cllr Ali said: “Our team comes from across the community, reflecting Camden’s rich social mix. We have a very diverse group of councillors and a diverse cabinet. These are experienced people who are well-known in the commun­ity and have a wealth of knowledge.”

Lib Dem group leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said: “They have to be complimented on the gender balance they have on the cabinet and good BME [black and minority ethnic] representation. 

“You just have to wonder whether in the effort to do that they have excluded some of the more experienced councillors. It’s a laudable mix, but it feels very inexperienced.”

Conservative group leader Councillor Martin Davies said: “They will find the council left in a good state, in contrast to the dire condition the outgoing government nat­ionally left the country. 

“It is good to see more women in the executive but the Labour Party must be regretting not having the experience of Geethika Jayatilaka [former social services chief], Anna Stewart and even Dame Jane Roberts [former Labour leaders.”