Richard Watts (politician)

Richard Watts (born 1975), is a Labour Party politician, currently Council Leader of Islington London Borough Council, England.

For an earlier MP of this name, see Richard Watts.
Cllr

Richard Watts
Leader of Islington London Borough Council
Assumed office
10 October 2013
DeputyJanet Burgess
Preceded byCatherine West
Labour Party Group Leader
on Islington London Borough Council
Assumed office
10 October 2013
DeputyJanet Burgess
Preceded byCatherine West
Councillor for Islington London Borough Council
Assumed office
4 May 2006
WardTollington
Preceded byDaniel Bonner
Personal details
Born1975
Political partyLabour
Alma materDurham University

He was elected to the role in October 2013.[1] In the borough elections of May 2014 he led the Islington Labour Party to an increased majority on the Council.[2]

Early life

Watts attended Haywood Comprehensive School, Nottingham. He graduated with a degree in politics from Durham University and before this worked in the Pretty Polly tights factory in Nottinghamshire.

Career

Watts has lived in Islington since 1998, representing Tollington ward in the north of Islington since 2006.

Before becoming a full-time member of Islington Council’s Executive, Watts ran the Children’s Food Campaign, a national campaign to improve children’s diets. Previously he worked for a number of different campaigns and a consultancy organisation, which led to some work in the Balkans, including working in Kosovo helping develop democratic political parties.[3]

He is a governor of City and Islington College.[3]

Watts is concerned about the effects of austerity on local government provision. Watts stated “unprecedented” funding pressure also demand for services addressing adult and children’s social care and homelessness was “pushing councils to the limit. As a result less money is being spent on the other services that keep our communities running such as libraries, local roads, early intervention and local welfare support. Losing a further £1.3bn of central government funding at this time is going to tip many councils over the edge. Many local authorities will reach the point where they only have the funds to provide statutory responsibilities and it will be our local communities and economies that will suffer the consequences.”[4]

References
  1. "New Islington Council leader vows to tackle job crisis - News - Islington Gazette". islingtongazette.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  2. "Labour win landslide victory in Town Hall. Lib Dems wiped out. Single Green councillor will be opposition". Islington Tribune. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  3. http://www.islington.gov.uk/about/council-who/councilleader/Pages/default.aspx
  4. English councils brace for biggest government cuts since 2010 despite 'unprecedented' budget pressures The Independent
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