The first ever Green Councillor, Katie Dawson, was elected to the London Borough of Islington on 4 May in the ward of Highbury West. As well as the 38% won in Highbury West, the Green vote increased in all sixteen wards, and several other candidates came close to winning seats. Jon Nott, also standing in Highbury West, came within 100 votes of joining her. Emma Dixon wasless than 200 shortin Highbury East, and strong Green results came in in St. Peter’s and Tollington. Across the Borough the Green Party polled 17% of the vote. Once again, the Conservatives were pushed into fourth place.

A dramatic night, which saw unexpected losses by the Lib Dems, including both the Council leader Steve Hitchins and deputy leader Bridget Fox, was capped when the final results, from Highbury East, confirmed that the borough would have no party in overall control. With 24 Lib Dem and 23 Labour councillors, Katie and the Green Party are now playing a pivotal role on islington’s new-look Council.

The Green breakthrough in Islington was one of eleven seats won by the Party in London: six in Lewisham, two in Camden (now three after the 2008 by-election), and seats in Hackney and Southwark. Across the country, the Party increased its number of councillors to ninety.