Last week at Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, we had Dinah Bornat from ZCD Architects speak to us about her work in designing play spaces. 🛝 My questions to her focussed on how to engage communities, which you can watch below ⬇️

Great stuff from @emmaburnell.bsky.social for @labourlist.bsky.social on the importance of the progressive policy ecosystem, and how it can help the government to deliver national renewal labourlist.org/2026/01/labo...

Saturday = Canvassing 🌹

At Environment Scrutiny last week I asked the Cabinet Member about E-bike parking bays and road resurfacing 🚲🛣️ You can watch my questions below ⬇️

Back on the doors in 2026! 🌹

New blog! ✍🏻 How To Write A Pub Quiz? 🤔 Find out below ⬇️ jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/h...

Christmas canvass in Junction Ward! 🌹 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social

Last night at Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee, I asked officers about how we get residents to buy into the removal of “No Ball Games” signs to encourage children to play on our estates. Watch my question below ⬇️

This investment will change lives. It'll go towards bespoke, calming spaces to help children with additional needs get the support they need at a good, local school on their doorstep. Labour is building schools where every child can achieve and thrive. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Out again this morning on the doors in Junction Ward 🌹 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social always #OnYourSide

Labour Council🤝Labour Mayor 22 more social homes for local residents on the Elthorne Estate thanks to @islingtonlabour.bsky.social and @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social working together. Marvellous! 🏘️ www.islington.media/news/more-ho...

Lime and Forest bikes are great. 🚲 But, there are challenges, including around rider safety. 🚦 I asked both companies how they will make their campaigns more visible especially on riders jumping red lights and drunk cycling at last night’s Environment Scrutiny Committee.

Cold? Rain? ☔️🌧️ Big deal! Your Junction Labour candidates will be out to speak to you whatever the weather! Good response on the Girdlestone Estate too! 🌹 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social @bennebgregg.bsky.social

50th Parkrun at Finsbury Park! 🏃🏻

Great afternoon awarding Freedom of the Borough to @ArsenalWFC for winning the Champions League earlier this year ⚽️

This grainy photo from 2011 is the only good one I have from my first big gig, watching the Foo Fighters in Milton Keynes. Join me in my latest blog, where I look back on this gig and a few other concerts which changed my life. Link here: jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/14/t...

Good to be back on the doors this morning! 🌹 You can’t beat speaking to people face to face and cut through all the noise and nonsense people see online!

At Children & Young People Scrutiny last night, we looked at the Annual Safeguarding Report. I asked questions around Online Safety training and the work we do to engage fathers. Watch my questions to officers below ⬇️

Raymond James Potts (1935-2025) 💔 On Wednesday, my grandad Ray Potts passed away aged 90. He was a doting grandfather, semi-pro snooker player and keen traveller who I’ll miss so much. He’s now reunited with my Nan, which brings me comfort. RIP gaffer 💔

Rapid lunchtime canvass today with some excellent @islingtonlabour.bsky.social colleagues. Lots of casework reported! Islington Labour is #OnYourSide 🌹 @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social @bennebgregg.bsky.social

Great evening watching Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall 🎭 Fantastic municipal building. Makes me sad the Greater London Council was scrapped in the 1980s. Weird now to think of London without a Mayor or the GLA. Maybe I’d have worked here for the GLC in another life!

Interesting Environment Scrutiny meeting tonight at the town hall exploring recycling rates and waste reduction ♻️ I asked about reducing contamination, using AI to speed up data processes and how officers expect waste streams to change in the future.

Back on the doors again this morning speaking to the residents of the Wedmore Estate in Junction Ward. We’ve been working hard to tackle anti-social behaviour on the estate. More to do however! Still lots of Labour voters too! 🌹 @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social @islingtonlabour.bsky.social

Lovely afternoon at Archway Library presenting the children who completed the Summer Reading Challenge with their certificates with Cllrs Burgess and Ogunro 📖📚 Reading from a young age is vitally important. Great to see our kids taking it up! @islington-council.bsky.social @janetb44.bsky.social

Out on the doors in Junction Ward this morning. Great conversations with residents picking up casework. Lot of support for Labour too! 🌹 @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social @islingtonlabour.bsky.social @janetb44.bsky.social

Really great two part history blog on the Low Hill Estate back home in Wolverhampton to celebrate it's centenary. 🏘️ My Mom was born and raised there where that side lived for decades and my Dad and my uncles worked at Goodyears nearby so this blog is very much a family affair!

Great morning at two fantastic community events! First: community bike ride with the London cycling campaign 🚲 Second: Harvest Festival at the Octopus Community Plant Nursery 🍂 Lovely reminder that our communities are still thriving! 👍🏻

Another fantastic Labour Party Conference in Liverpool and my first as a local councillor. Great to catch up with many from across our great movement and I left feeling optimistic and upbeat! 🌹👍🏻 My annual reflections blog is below: jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/01/r...

London’s tonight looking 👌🏻

Questions about housing conditions are of vital importance, not “silly” as the Greens and Independents called them at Full Council. My supplementary question to Cllr John Woolf below, which asked what improvements we are making to our housing stock in Islington 🏠 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social

School suspensions lead to higher absence rates. Who knew! It appears to me that they are a blunt instrument that doesn’t benefit children’s education. My question to officers about this during Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee earlier this week ⬇️

Great to speak to @sturgios.bsky.social about my campaign to save The Mother Red Cap pub in Junction Ward, featuring in The Telegraph this week. Positive it is set to reopen, but it is important to respect its heritage. I will be seeking reassurances it will remain as is. @rogerprotz.bsky.social

Proud to have spoken in favour of the application for Vorley Road in Archway at Planning Committee. 🏡 79 new homes, 33 of which are for social rent 📚New Archway Library 🩺 New GP surgery 🌳 Improvements to Girdlestone Park My speech below ⬇️ @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social @islingtonlabour.bsky.social

Islington Grow Show in full swing this afternoon in Whittington Park in Junction Ward. Great community event learning about growing, trees and bee hotels plus a performance from the London Vegetable Orchestra! 🍎🥕🥦

Humbled to have been re-selected as one of Labour’s candidates for Junction Ward alongside my good friends Sheila Chapman and Ben Gregg! A huge thanks to Labour members for putting their faith in us. The hard work continues to hold the seat next May 🌹

The Mother Red Cap pub has been a valued community asset in Junction Ward for many decades. Its sudden closure last March was worrying but the recent boarding up of the pub has only made those worries worse and residents fear its permanent loss to our area. (1/2)

Warm day on the #LabourDoorstep today speaking to voters in Junction Ward! Lots of good conversations with residents who are always pleased to see us! ☀️

Delighted the Government will extend the vote to 16 & 17 year olds! Long overdue and a recognition of the trust we’re putting in the next generation, many of whom are incredibly knowledgable about politics. They work and pay tax, so why shouldn’t they get the right to vote?

Private renting leaves too many in shocking conditions, paying thousands to landlords each month. Labour is thankfully strengthening renters’ rights and fixing the broken system. Proud to speak in favour of our @islingtonlabour.bsky.social motion at #IslingtonFC last week:

So yesterday marked 10 years to the day that I moved into my room in Upper Holloway, which is as good a milestone as any for a blog. Hope you enjoy reading! jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/1...

It’s #IslingtonFC tonight. Great to hear we have been: Ranked healthiest inner London borough for the fifth year in a row 🏡 Accredited platinum for our domestic abuse support services 👏🏻 Named the top-performing single-tier council in the UK for climate action 🌍 Top work!

Who says community in London doesn’t exist? Lovely evening with the team at Hargrave Hall, a great asset to Junction Ward! 👍🏻

Superbly sunny canvass this lunchtime in Junction Ward! ☀️ People are always pleased to see us as ward councillors as discuss local issues! #OnYourSide

Coastguard Cottages and the Seven Sisters cliffs, Sussex, England 🏞️

The Building Safety Regulator’s delays in processing remediation works to Archway Heights are unacceptable. Thanks to @islingtontrib.bsky.social & Islington Gazette for publishing our letter calling on them to take action so the limbo residents have been left in can end.

Today’s Spending Review is a clear demonstration that since we’ve been elected, Labour has ended austerity 👏🏻 We’re investing in schools, hospitals, police, energy, homes and infrastructure and more 🏗️ Lots of good news in today’s announcements. Now time to keep delivering 🇬🇧

We are @islingtonlabour.bsky.social! 🌹 Superb turnout for our campaign day in Tufnell Park this afternoon! Hundreds of conversations with residents, showing how we’re #OnYourSide

Back out on the doors this morning in Junction Ward. Speaking to residents and fixing local issues is what we do best @islingtonlabour.bsky.social #OnYourSide

Great to see! 👏🏻 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social was one of the first areas to give Free School Meals to pupils back in 2010. Then in 2023, London followed suit thanks to @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social Now nationally families who receive Universal Credit will benefit from 2026. #OnYourSide

🚨 NEW: Labour is lifting 100,000 children out of poverty by expanding access to free school meals. Alongside free breakfast clubs, cheaper uniform costs and government-funded childcare, Labour is putting money in parents’ pockets and giving children the best start in life.