Islington’s new Green opposition leader vows to be ‘constructive’

New opposition leader Cllr Benali Hamdache. Photograph: Julia Gregory

Islington’s new opposition leader has pledged to keep the council on its toes over housing repairs and the climate emergency.

Cllr Benali Hamdache has taken over the role from long-serving Green councillor Caroline Russell, who is taking up a position as chair of the police and crime committee on the London Assembly.

Cllr Russell, who has served as ward councillor since 2014, said: “With expanding responsibilities on the London Assembly, this feels like the right time to hand over the leadership role in Islington.”

Hamdache was elected to the council in the May 2022 elections along with Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong, who remains as deputy leader.

Hamdache is also the Green party’s national spokesman on migrants and refugee support.

He said his appointment in Islington means “it’s the first time that the leader of the council and leader of the opposition are from ethnic minorities”.

He added: “One of the biggest Green pledges is to be a constructive opposition.”

However, this does not mean it will not hold the Labour-run council to account.

Cllr Hamdache sits on the housing scrutiny committee and said one of the biggest concerns is over the council’s performance on housing repairs, neglected estates and overcrowding.

“One of the benefits to challenging the council is we are not tongue-tied by a party whip,” he said.

The three Green councillors, who all represent Highbury, are the only opposition politicians on the Labour-majority council.

Another area of concern is the recycling rate in the borough and reducing the amount of waste sent to the Edmonton incinerator.

Cllr Hamdache said that while the Greens will challenge the council, they also support much of its work on the cost-of-living crisis and cutting air pollution on Islington’s roads.

On his predecessor, he said: “I am really proud of the accomplishments that Caroline has managed to achieve – like work on council tax reduction for the poorest residents.”

Islington has a 95 per cent tax reduction scheme for 27,000 people, but the Greens want to see a 100 per cent for those struggling the most.

Cllr Hamdache also pledged to continue with public meetings over issues concerning residents.

“We are not afraid to hear from people who disagree with us,” he said.