New Liberal Democrat leader takes the reins in Islington

5.31.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th May 2009

Liberal Democrat councillor Terry Stacy was voted in as new leader of Islington Council.

The Liberal Democrats cemented their control of Islington last night as Liberal Democrat councillor Terry Stacy took the reins of Islington Council after councillors voted him in as new leader.

Terry is a social housing tenant who cut his political teeth in the tenants' movement and has served as Islington's Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety. He has served in local government for over ten years so brings a wealth of experience to the role - despite being Islington's youngest-ever council leader at 38 years old.

Terry has been a councillor in Islington since 2002 and was a councillor in Tower Hamlets for 4 years previously. He has a professional background in public sector housing and regeneration.

Terry said that the next year will be all about proving that the Liberal Democrats have delivered lasting change to Islington and still have the drive and imagination to take the borough into the future - and that the Lib Dems deserve residents' votes in the local elections next year.

Terry said:

"I love Islington and I'm passionate about using the next year to lead a council that puts people first, delivers value for money, and emerges even stronger from the recession.

"The Liberal Democrats have built a lasting legacy in Islington. Building new council homes, safer streets, improved leisure facilities, and a local environment people want to spend time in - this is what I am going to deliver for the people of Islington.

"I want to make sure that Islington doesn't return to the dark days of Labour control. The Lib Dems have a record to be proud of - you can walk down any street and see our achievements. I'm going to show residents that the Liberal Democrats will not rest on our laurels and have the energy and vision to keep improving Islington."

Terry set out his top priorities for the year ahead:

1. Building the first new Council homes for a generation. "I will identify sites for 100 new council homes. The first new council homes for a generation are now going up in the borough and in the next year I want to lay the foundations for even more affordable homes for families."

2. Helping Islington emerge stronger from the recession. "I will continue to support the local credit union to make sure that residents have access to safe, affordable credit. I am going to work with local businesses to make sure that Islington is an attractive place for businesses and industries to invest, and that the council helps local entrepreneurs and enterprises. The council will offer 100 new apprenticeships so that local young people benefit in the future from new jobs in the borough."

3. Making Islington Greener. "I'm going to be opening new allotments and growing projects in schools, community centres, and estates, so that hundreds of local people can experience growing their own food. New trees, shrubs, and flowers are going to brighten up Islington's forgotten corners, and the council is going to be planting more flowers than ever before as Islington represents London in the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition."

4. Improving the borough's leisure facilities. "Despite the recession, I'm going to push ahead with improving the borough's leisure centres, giving Ironmonger Row Baths in the south of the borough a major refurbishment and giving the Sobell Centre in the north of Islington a new ice rink."

5. Taking the fight to Labour. "In the budget meeting this year Labour proved their intention to return to the days of the loony left and high council tax. I'm going to fight them tooth and nail. I mean to keep Islington liberal."