LABOUR'S Jennette Arnold easily retained her seat in the London Assembly.

LABOUR'S Jennette Arnold easily retained her seat in the London Assembly. In the North East constituency - which contains Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest - Ms Arnold won 37 per cent of the votes, giving her a 28,000 majority over Conservative candidate Alexander Ellis.

Meral Ece, the Lib Dem candidate, trailed in third with just 15 per cent of the votes - four per cent down on their performance in 2004 when current deputy council leader Terry Stacy stood as the party's North East candidate.

Islington Labour leader, Councillor Catherine West, said: "Islington voters supported Labour in overwhelming numbers.

"They swung to Labour as the only party that stands up for more affordable housing and tough action on local crime.

RESULT

Jennette Arnold (Lab) 73,551

Alexander Ellis (Con) 45,114

Meral Ece (Lib-Dem) 28,973

Aled Fisher (Green) 25,845

Unjum Mirza (Left List) 6,019

Nicholas Jones (UKIP) 5,349

Maxine Hargreaves (Christian Peoples Alliance) 5,323

John Dodds (Eng Dem) 3,637