Rents were set to rocket for Islington Council’s 40,000 tenants after the Conservative election victory.

Islington South and Finsbury MP Chris Smith warned the increase could be as much as £10 a week (£25 in today’s terms).

His fears were based on the Tory campaign in which ministers said local authorities should not be allowed to subsidise housing from general rate funds. Islington had a £32million fund to keep rents down.

He said: “Thousands of families struggling to get by on low incomes will become much worse off.”

Mr Smith was re-elected with a majority of 805 over second-placed Social Democrat George Cunningham. He was supported by 102-year-old former suffragette Catherine Griffiths, after which Catherine Griffiths Court in Clerkenwell is named.

Jeremy Corbyn won his first re-election in Islington North poll, cruising to a 9,657 majority over Conservative candidate Ernest Noad.

Meanwhile, EastEnders actress Gillian Taylforth was special guest at Islington Disablement Association’s sports day in Finsbury.

But her presence was overshadowed after a policewoman was struck by lightning.