Islington Labour Councillor Sara Hyde awarded peerage

Caledonian ward Councillor Sara Hyde has been awarded a peerage in the House of Lords.

Councillor Hyde will be introduced into the Lords in mid-January 2026, and her new role will be that of an active working peer, participating in scrutiny and legislative functions in Westminster.

Sara will continue in her role as Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care for the remainder of her term and will stand down as a Councillor in May 2026.

Throughout this period, she will donate her Executive Member allowance to three local charities: Copenhagen Youth Project, Help on your Doorstep (Bemerton good neighbours scheme), and Fit Women (a Cally-based grassroots women-only exercise group, preventing serious medical issues, often post-natally).

Councillor Hyde has represented Caledonian Ward since 2018, serving as Chief Whip for four years as well as her current role as Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

Beyond her work as a Councillor, Sara is a dedicated prison reform activist and criminal justice policy expert and has supported those both in and having left prison for many years. She received a PhD in criminology in 2025 and is also the current Chair of the Fabian Society.

Sara started volunteering around Caledonian Road in 2003 as a youth worker and helping run a homeless night shelter. She has served as a governor at Blessed Sacrament primary school and is a former a trustee of the anti-trafficking charity Sophie Hayes Foundation. She has been an upstanding member of her local community, serving consistently with empathy and dedication.

Caledonian Ward members have selected dedicated local campaigner Oliur Rahman to fill the vacancy. Oliur has been involved with local voluntary organisations for many years and received a BEM for his outstanding work in the community during the Covid pandemic.

We at Islington Labour commend all the fantastic work Sara has done for her community and the council. We wish her the best of luck in her new role.