New Islington mayor elected

THE new Mayor of Islington was elected this week.

Councillor Phil Kelly, a Labour member for Finsbury Park ward, was set to be installed in the role at the annual Islington Council meeting at Islington Town Hall on Tuesday.

The Wigan-born 64-year-old, who was first elected to Islington Council in 1984, will champion the Islington-based charity Help on Your Doorstep, of which he is a trustee, during his year-long tenure.

He said: “These are hard times for many residents and communities with the government cuts hitting the elderly and vulnerable hardest. So I will use my mayoralty to try and make the borough a fairer place by raising money for my charity Help on Your Doorstep, which does so much to assist those most in need to get access to local services.”

Councillor Kelly, a former journalist, is currently vice-chairman of governors at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Donegal Street, Islington, and has been the Labour group’s chief whip since 2007. He was deputy leader of the council from 1997 to 1998, and has previously represented Canonbury East and Hillmarton wards.

He succeeds Councillor Mouna Hamitouche. His deputy will be Councillor Jilani Choudhury, of Barnsbury ward.