Our 2026 Candidates
Arsenal
Cllr Fin Craig
Fin has lived in Islington for 30 years and works locally as a Paediatrician. She became a local councillor in 2022 as she believes councils have a crucial role in community health, wellbeing and quality of life. She also saw how much growing up in our multi-cultural borough enriched her children's lives, alongside the experiences and opportunities that she wants to ensure Islington's future generations can enjoy. She’s sat on the Health and Social Care, Environment and Children's Scrutiny groups as well as Planning Committee.
Tom Doherty
Tom is a lifelong Islington resident. He grew up on a council estate and has lived in Arsenal for 12 years with his family. He is a former Civil Servant and supports charities that help young people to achieve their potential. He is a Trustee of Central Foundation Schools of London, his own former school. He took part in marches in Islington against knife crime in the wake of Ben Kinsella’s death and to save the A&E department at the Whittington Hospital.
Cllr Bashir Ibrahim
Bashir Ibrahim has served as an Arsenal Councillor since 2021. He was born in the Whittington Hospital, went to Ambler Primary School and continued secondary and further education in Islington. He has called Arsenal home all his life. Bashir serves as Islington’s first-ever Young People’s Champion as well as being a governor at Pakeman Primary School. He has championed the opportunities, wellbeing and educational outcomes for young people across the borough.
Barnsbury
Cllr Rowena Champion
Rowena has lived in Barnsbury for thirty years, and was first elected in 2016. She is proud to have supported the community to transform parks and green spaces, including Barnard Park and community spaces on the estates. While in her role as Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport, Islington has been rated the #1 London Borough by Healthy Streets Scorecard five years in a row, and best single-tier council for Climate Action.
Kane Emerson
Kane is passionate about making Islington a better place for everyone. He works in public policy, focusing on housing. Growing up in an overcrowded council home shaped his belief that everyone should have a decent home, strong public services, and a community they can be proud of. A school governor at St Andrew’s CE Primary School, Kane is also a former chair of the Old Barnsbury Residents’ Group. He is standing to be a hardworking local councillor who puts residents first.
Cllr Jilani Chowdhury
For nearly 20 years, Jilani has proudly served Barnsbury to build a fairer, greener and more inclusive Islington. Together, the Barnsbury Labour team has improved parks, strengthened housing provision, supported local businesses, enhanced youth facilities, and expanded green, safe streets. On the council, he’s championed high‑quality services and protected vital care. His commitment to Barnsbury’s diverse communities remains at the heart of everything he does.
Bunhill
Cllr Valerie Bossman-Quarshie
As a proud lifelong Islingtonian, Valerie is dedicated to building a Bunhill where every resident feels supported. A councillor since 2021, she works with children and young people, serving as a Trustee of the YMCA and St Luke’s Community Trust, and as a governor at Moreland and St Luke’s CoE schools. Valerie is a champion of greater opportunities for families and high-quality education. She’ll continue working tirelessly so Bunhill remains a vibrant, inclusive place where everyone can fulfil their potential.
Cllr Troy Gallagher
Troy has devoted 25 years to leading and uplifting the Bunhill community he proudly calls home. As chair of local organisations, community representative, school governor and long-serving councillor, he has helped transform the area. He has championed social housing programmes in Bunhill, introduced the lettings policy to keep Bunhill families rooted, and expanded investment in youth opportunities. As Islington’s first Irish-born Mayor, Troy has led with vision and integrity for Bunhill.
Kiran Prasad
For Kiran, this community is her family home for 25 years. She is a passionate voice for her community: a primary school governor, trustee of a local volunteering charity, Kiran has successfully championed tenants’ rights, and challenged unfair service charges.
Kiran puts families at the heart of healthy community. She is a strong voice in national children’s policy research for care-in-the-community and serves on local school committee for looked-after and special needs children.
Caledonian
Cllr Paul Convery
Paul is a proud Scot and Londoner. He came to Islington in 1979 and has lived with his family in Cally for 30 years. He has represented Caledonian ward since 2006. Every year Paul is the lead Councillor organising the Cally Festival. At the Town Hall, he chairs the Audit & Risk committee and Islington’s pension committee. He is also the chair of governors at Robert Blair primary school. His is an Arsenal supporter and a fan of 1970s soul music.
Cllr Una O'Halloran
Una is the Leader of Islington's Labour council. She has represented Caledonian Ward since 2014. She was born and raised in Islington, has served as Mayor and is the first Leader be a council tenant. She is involved in her local church, community schemes and inter-faith partnerships. Una’s priority as Leader is working with local people and communities to make sure their voices are heard for a more equal Islington.
Oliur Rahman
Oliur Rahman BEM is a dedicated community activist of over 20 years, helping residents with housing, education, health, employment, passport attestation and more. He received the British Empire Medal Award for his outstanding community service. Oliur has worked as a college lecturer and in the NHS, and as a school governor and charity chair. He wants to build a cleaner, safer and more connected community for everyone.
Canonbury
Cllr Clare Jeapes
Clare Jeapes is a proud Islingtonian, born in the Borough to parents born locally. She went to school in Islington, worked in Islington, and has been involved with Islington’s community all her life. She is an artist, also an ecologist and is passionate about football. She is heavily involved in her community, including supporting the community garden in King Henry's Walk, as well as the improvements to the New River Walk.
Cllr Nick Wayne
Nick Wayne has made Islington his home since 1997. He was a governor at Winton primary school before being first elected as a councillor in 2010. As the first member of his family to go to university he is passionate about making sure that children growing up in Islington have the chance to have a career and build a future in Islington. Nick is a barrister, prosecuting and defending cases of serious criminal offences.
Cllr John Woolf
Dr John Woolf is a committed Labour Councillor for Canonbury, working every day to make the area safer, fairer and more affordable for local people.
John has a strong record of community action – supporting residents, local groups and neighbourhood initiatives. On the council, John is fighting for secure, genuinely affordable homes and safer streets, ensuring local people’s voices are heard.
Clerkenwell
Andrew Clark
Born and brought up in north London, Andrew has lived in Islington for 30 years.
A former journalist, he works in communications and is a governor of two local schools. Andrew is keen to stand up for residents of Clerkenwell’s diverse streets, estates and squares. He is a passionate cyclist, committed to the local community and his aim is to get businesses in Clerkenwell to invest more in skills and improve local spaces.
Cllr Ruth Hayes
Ruth has a keen interest in anti-poverty work and is a trustee of several local charities. She has lived in Islington for over 30 years, and brought up her son as a single parent on one of our estates. As part of the Labour Council, Ruth has sought to involve voluntary groups in shaping policies and making improvements, and was delighted to increase the amount of community space in Clerkenwell. This will be a high priority for her going forwards.
Cllr Ben Mackmurdie
Ben was born in Islington, and has lived in Finsbury for 40 years on various council estates, raising his daughter in the borough. He has campaigned for social housing his whole life, and was elected to the EC1 New Deal for Communities Board. As a Councillor, he is committed to improving local services and to finding better ways to stop knife crime. He works on infrastructure projects and wants to help young people to get into the sector.
Finsbury Park
Portia Msimang
A longstanding member of Charteris Neighbourhood Tenant Co-op, Portia has lived in Moray Road since 1992. As an active community campaigner, she is committed to building a society in which wealth and power are shared and has a long record of involvement in anti-racism work. After 9 years helping private renters to secure their rights and campaigning for housing justice, Portia was pleased when the Renters’ Rights Act passed into law last October.
Cllr Michael O'Sullivan
Mick has been a Finsbury Park Labour and Co-operative Councillor for over 20 years. He works for a Housing Co-operative, and as a tenant himself he campaigns for tenants rights. Mick is passionate about fighting poverty. He has addressed damp and mould issues on the Andover Estate and established both Islington’s first Men’s Shed to fight loneliness and the first free laundry for families, as well as getting more police resources for Finsbury Park.
Cllr Gulcin Ozdemir
Gulcin is a dedicated local councillor who grew up and lives in Finsbury Park with a long-standing commitment in social housing advocacy. On the Council, she works on school attendance, wellbeing, and educational outcomes to shape policies to improve children’s life chances in Islington. Gulcin is a local school governor and a social work student focused on giving children in Islington the best start in life.
Highbury
Tahreen Dewen
Tahreen has lived in Highbury for 5 years and feels strongly about protecting our community and spaces. As a trade unionist of over 10 years, she advocates for workers rights and passionately campaigns on equalities issues. Tahreen is a trustee for a charity supporting survivors of sexual violence. She will bring her passion and skills as a trade union organiser and charity trustee to represent Highbury residents effectively.
Michael Comba
Michael is a local resident bringing up his young family here in Islington. He works as construction lawyer for local councils across the country. He’ll apply his practical experience in delivering meaningful change for Highbury residents. He meets them on the doorstep every week and know their priorities. Michael is committed on keeping Highbury a great, safe and clean place to live, work and play.
Alastair Harper
Alastair has lived in the area all his adult life and feels lucky to be raising his child in the warm community of Highbury. He likes nothing better than calling on his neighbours, hearing how they are getting on and relentlessly badgering the council on their behalf. He has spent his career working on children’s rights, homelessness, refugees and continues to work on tackling climate change and restoring London’s environment.
Hillrise
Cllr Shreya Nanda
Shreya was born in the Whittington Hospital, and has lived in Islington for most of her life. She has been a dedicated councillor since 2024 and is a school governor at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School. Her top priorities are crime and antisocial behaviour - she is in regular contact with the community safety team to make Hillrise safer. Shreya is an economist and housing campaigner, and is passionate about making decent housing more accessible to everyone in our community.
Cllr Michelline Safi-Ngongo
Arriving in Islington from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Michelline is determined to improve the lives of her local community. She is an Equalities Champion and became a Councillor for Hillrise Ward in 2014. In the Council, Michelline works to improve young peoples’ lives in Islington. She is the founder of Light Project Pro International, a charity that runs projects for disadvantaged people in mainstream education.
Cllr Marian Spall
Marian was born and raised in Islington and live on the Elthorne Estate. Over the years, she has served on numerous community boards and forums. Supporting her community has always been central to who she is — something that truly runs in her blood. She was first elected in 2010 and since then, has worked hard to deliver real improvements for local people, including new council homes on the Elthorne Estate and in Sunnyside Road.
Holloway
Cllr Jason Jackson
Jason Jackson is the Mayor of Islington and Labour councillor for Holloway. A father of three boys, Jason brings diverse representation and deep community roots to his work. He has delivered for residents: securing housing repairs, tackling anti-social behaviour, and helping families through the cost-of-living crisis. Jason has championed youth provision and safe spaces because young people deserve opportunity. He wants to ensure Holloway residents have access to the skills needed in a changing economy.
Joe Peck
Joe loves Islington and thinks it can always be better. That’s why he’s standing to be your councillor, to help make Holloway a safer and more affordable place to live. He is passionate about looking after our older neighbours and building social housing to give our younger residents a safe and genuinely affordable place to call home.
Joe works at Kings College London and volunteers at the foodbank in his free time. He lives just off Holloway Road.
Cllr Claire Zammit
Claire has lived in Holloway for 15 years and loves the community she is proud to serve. A strong advocate - you'll see Claire in the park, local shops and housing estates talking to locals. She supports people with housing, wellbeing and everyday challenges, and works to create safe, fun and beautiful public spaces. As well as her work on the Fostering Panel and Children’s Scrutiny Committee, Claire champions early intervention, community power and local voices. As Arts Champion, she works to widen cultural access for all.
Junction
Cllr Sheila Chapman
Sheila has lived in Junction ward with her family for over a decade. She’s a governor at Yerbury Primary School and previously at Acland Burghley. As a councillor, she is keen to hear directly from residents about their concerns. She’s a member of the Archway Town Centre Group of local business and regularly attends tenant and resident association meetings across Junction. In the Council, she is particularly proud to lead on Islington’s work as a Borough of Sanctuary.
Cllr James Potts
James has lived in the area for over 10 years. He is a committed community champion and is Chair of Governors at a local primary school. As a councillor, he is leading a campaign to reopen the Mother Red Cap pub on Holloway Road and calling for the cladding works to begin at Archway Heights. He is also passionate about the environment and scrutinises the environmental work of this Council.
Ben Gregg
Ben has lived in Archway for almost four years now. He works as a researcher, looking at welfare policy, and is a keen member of his local church. He loves the community he has found here in Islington and wants to serve it. He is passionate about fighting to reduce poverty in our borough, fixing our housing shortage, and ensuring that our high street is safe and thriving.
Laycock
Maia Hamilton
Maia is a dedicated local activist, who works for an MP in Westminster on policy and research. She is a school governor at City of London Academy Islington, and has a deep interest in issues facing local young people. She is passionate about tackling violence against women and girls, through supporting local institutions like Solace, and would welcome the opportunity to represent her community in Laycock as a councillor.
Cllr Heather Staff
Heather Staff works in International Relations. She lives by the Grove Estate and cares deeply for her community - being a councillor means she can help and serve local people. She’s from a working class public service family,
both military and NHS. She spends her summers helping young people learn forgiveness, reconciliation, and empathy in former conflict zones. Like many in Islington she is a private renter, working to improve the community she calls home.
Cllr Nurullah Turan
Nurullah is a Social Worker and Approved Mental Health Professional having worked for the NHS since 1999.
He is very passionate about his local area and the NHS. In the Council, he led the successful challenge against giant-foreign corporations taking over GP practices in Islington. Nurullah is thankful for raising his children in Islington which he loves, born in the Whittington Hospital Maternity Unit, that was saved from closing thanks to the campaign led by Islington Labour.
Mildmay
Cllr Santiago Bell-Bradford
Santiago is a lifelong Islington resident, and lives on an estate in Mildmay. He is a champion of migrant and refugee rights, including leading on Islington’s designation as a Borough of sanctuary. Locally, he has fought for Mildmay Library to be refurbished, supported the re-development of three local parks and been a local school governor for 8 years. Santiago is a committed socialist, trade unionist, and is Deputy Leader of the Council. Through this role, he has supported over 6000 local residents into work.
Cllr Jenny Kay
Jenny has served as Mildmay councillor since 2014. She is Islington’s Private Renters Champion, standing up for tenants’ rights across the borough. She’s vice-chair of the Federation of Newington Green and Rotherfield Primary Schools, co-chairs the Newington Green Action Group, and is a governor of the Cripplegate Foundation. Jenny co-founded The Unity Project, helping migrants families to access support. She also helped restore Balls Pond Road Jewish Cemetery.
Cllr Angelo Weekes
Born and raised on Kerridge Court estate, Angelo has spent five years delivering for local residents, supporting families and migrant communities. He led the refurbishment of Mildmay Library, and is Co-Chair of Governors at Highbury Fields School and a Trustee of the Richard Reeves Foundation. His upbringing drives his commitment to resident voices—he supports Tenants and Residents Associations and helped establish one on the Mayville Estate. As the Council’s political lead for Community Safety, he launched Islington’s 24/7 neighbourhood patrol to tackle antisocial behaviour and keep Mildmay safe.
St Mary’s & St James’
Cllr Joseph Croft
With a strong focus on prevention and community wellbeing, Joseph is the borough’s Mental Health Champion. On the Council, he holds health and care services to account - driving improvements for local people. Joseph sits on the Licensing Committee to ensure gambling operators are properly regulated and the most vulnerable are protected. A psychologist by profession, Joseph has worked in frontline roles across the NHS throughout his adult life.
Cllr Hannah McHugh
Islington is a borough of huge contrasts, and Hannah believes the way to close the distance between them is by empowering people to shape the places they share together. On the Council, she focuses on homelessness services - pushing for prevention, partnership and dignity. Homelessness has reduced locally while rising across London. Hannah is a researcher in political theory, and as Equalities Champion, emphasises inclusion, equality and building a fairer Islington.
Cllr Saiqa Pandor
Saiqa has worked to ensure Islington remains a supportive home for everyone.
As Women and Girls Champion and a VAWG board member, she has secured safe housing for domestic abuse survivors, ensured support organisations receive vital grants, and hosted empowerment events such as the 2023 pampering day.
She is dedicated to resolving housing issues, helping vulnerable residents to access tax reductions and travel passes. She also founded the annual Community Iftar, bringing all faiths together.
St Peter’s & Canalside
Cllr Martin Klute
Martin has been a local councillor since 2006 and is a real champion for our community – working alongside residents to address a huge range of local concerns. Improving our local built environment is a significant priority for Martin, and he is chair of the council’s planning committee. Martin is also a director of the Angel Business Improvement District and a strong supporter of community organisations, helping to secure the future of the Islington Boat Club and Angel Canal Festival.
Cllr Toby North
Toby has represented our local area since 2021. His priorities include securing more genuinely affordable homes for local people, investing in our estates, and ensuring that young people have the support they need to thrive. He has initiated projects to enhance Elia Mews estate and St Peter’s Street. Outside of the council, he works for a charity, campaigning for a better end of life for people with a terminal illness, and is a school governor at Winton and Hugh Myddleton Primary Schools.
Cllr Rosaline Ogunro
Rosaline has been a councillor for St Peter’s and Canalside since 2022 and is currently the Deputy Mayor. She takes great pride in helping residents on issues like housing repairs and anti-social behaviour. Creating opportunities for our community to come together and improving our local parks are significant priorities for Rosaline. She works as an Adviser at Islington Citizens Advice Bureau, is a trustee of St Luke’s Community Centre, and is an active community gardener.
Tollington
Cllr Mick Gilgunn
Elected in 2021, Mick has led our efforts to tackle drug dealing by working closely with local police, community safety teams and drug outreach services. He also holds housing associations accountable for clearing rubbish and addressing anti-Social behaviour in Cornwallis Square and Kiver Road. He is working to tackle homelessness and the housing crisis. He is a committed trade unionist, is active in the Whittington Hospital campaign, and is a trustee of the London Hazards Centre.
Cllr Anjna Khurana
Anjna has served Tollington since 2018. Her priorities are giving children a place to thrive by upgrading our playgrounds and estates, improving accessibility around Tollington, and pushing for voices of residents to be heard. She was central in stopping US health giant Centene from taking over Hanley Primary Care Centre.
She is a trustee of Voluntary Action Islington, was a trustee of the Brickworks Community Centre, and is a governor at St Mark’s Primary School. She was Mayor of Islington for 2024-2025.
Cllr Flora Williamson
Flora has been your councillor for over a decade. She leads our work to make Tollington greener through planting trees, supporting community gardening on Evershot Road and Everleigh Street, making upcoming improvements to Landseer Gardens and Wray Crescent parks, and installing bike hangers. She is a trustee of local charity Cloudsley and was a governor at St Mark’s and Grafton primary schools. On the council, she ensuring the council delivers the best services and value for money for you.
Tufnell Park
Cllr Satnam Gill
Satnam has lived in Tufnell Park for over 20 years and been the ward councillor
for 12 years. He worked in adult education and a sixth form college. As a councillor, he is committed to achieving net zero, expanding social housing, keeping our NHS strong, and working with trade unions to deliver equitable change. Only a Labour council can deliver meaningful change to create a fairer community.
Buffy Sharpe
Buffy Sharpe is an experienced producer fundraiser, and community development professional with over two decades of leadership across the arts, charity, and political sectors. Buffy then moved into business and enterprise development, supporting disadvantaged entrepreneurs at The Prince’s Trust.
She is passionate about supporting community programmes, social enterprises, and the creative industries.
Jenevieve Treadwell
Jenevieve has rented in Islington for many years, and knows first-hand the challenges facing our community. She is a researcher, specialising in housing, industrial strategy, and crime. She is standing to deliver more genuinely affordable, high-quality housing and to tackle antisocial behaviour. She wants to help build a community where local people in Islington feel secure and safe.