Islington by-election called after Labour councillor resigns just two months into the job

Islington residents face voting in their fourth election this year after a Labour councillor resigned just two months into the job.

Ollie Steadman has stepped down with immediate effect after first being elected in the Hillrise Ward by-election on May 2, 2024.

He beat the Green Party’s Alex Nettle by 2,824 votes to 1,095 and said after the poll that he was “incredibly proud and honoured to have been elected”.

A vote to appoint Mr Steadman’s replacement has been scheduled for August 15. His reasons for resigning have not been revealed.

The Labour Party and Islington Council have not responded to requests for comment.

It will be fourth poll for residents of Hillrise in just four months, following the by-election on May 2, the mayoral election and last week’s general election where Jeremy Corbyn stormed to victory in the constituency over the party he once led - winning 24,120 votes against Labour candidate and Islington councillor Praful Nargund’s 16,873.

Several town hall polls are expected to take place across the capital in the coming months after a number of councillors were elected as MPs on July 4.

In Camden council leader Georgia Gould was elected MP for Queen's Park and Maida Vale, cabinet member Danny Beales won Uxbridge and South Ruislip and local Labour chief whip Lloyd Hatton was elected MP for South Dorset on July 4.

Enfield leader Nesil Caliskan also won Barking and Jas Athwal, the leader of Redbridge, became the MP for Ilford South.

There is nothing to prevent councillors who became MPs from staying on in their town hall jobs, but most resign as local politicians to focus on Westminster.