First meeting of the new Executive last night and I was pleased to present my first report on introducing High Street Rental Auctions to the Caledonian Road. This will see us work with landlords to bring vacant shop units back into positive use for the community.

Jersey Farm Parkrun in St. Albans was great this morning to continue my tourism streak and tick off some of the challenges! 🏃🏻

First pint in the newly reopened Mother Red Cap in Archway! Delighted to have played a part in campaigning to get this pub back in business for our community in Junction Ward. Cheers everyone! 🍻

Really interesting morning at #FutureLondon digesting the local election results and understanding what businesses think the future of the capital looks like.

Delighted to have been appointed as the Executive Member for Inclusive Economy & Planning at Islington Council. First day today and straight in at the deep end with Alan Milburn launching his interim report on NEETs in the borough this morning. Lots to get up to speed with!

5K PB in Wales! (20:55!) 🥇🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Very pleased to have been re-elected in Junction Ward with Sheila and Ben and proud that Islington remained a Labour borough 🌹 But I feel sad for the councillors in Islington, London and the whole country who lost their seats. We lost a lot of good community champions yesterday.

Big day today! 🌹🗳️#LocalElection

Four years since I wrote this blog about why Polling Day is great. It’s still great! Bring on today! #LocalElections #VoteLabour 🗳️🌹 jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/w...

It’s been a busy few days on the doors! 🚪 Just 5 days to go! Always good to chat to residents and pick up casework. 👍🏻 Oh and lots of support for Labour too! 🌹

Happy Renters' Rights Act Day! 🥳 Great to see this Labour Government delivering for millions of renters across the country. 🏘️ Here's what it all means ⬇️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Weekly canvassing round up! 🌹 We’ve been speaking to hundreds of voters in Junction Ward, with lots of support for the Labour Party! 👍🏻 Nearly there! Last full week of the campaigning to come and we’re not stopping until the end of polling day! 🗳️

Postal vote weekend in Junction Ward done! ✉️ Great talking to voters and get lots of votes for Labour already banked ahead of polling day! 🗳️ 18 days to go! 🌹

Weekly canvassing round up 🗳️ We’ve spoken to hundreds of people in Junction Ward in the last few weeks & we’re not going to stop until the end of polling day! Great to see lots of support for Labour🌹 Plus not pictured but I’ve helped out in two other wards too! We keep going!

Thank you @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social for making the time in your busy schedule and joining us here in Laycock to speak with residents for @islingtonlabour.bsky.social It was a very positive evening with many good conversations around the @unionchapeluk.bsky.social

Delighted that TimeOut have also covered my campaign on reopening The Mother Red Cap in Junction Ward and even better that it will reopen in the next month! 🍺 www.timeout.com/london/news/...

Thanks to the Ham & High for covering my campaign to get The Mother Red Cap reopened. 🍺 I’m hoping the works going on inside mean that it will be back in business soon and I look forward to popping back in to have a pint! 👍🏻 www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/2600129...

NEW: Today I’m announcing plans to deliver at least one new late-night youth club in every London borough - the biggest investment in youth clubs ever made by a Mayor. We’re bringing youth clubs back. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm staying up to watch #ArtemisII fly around the moon. Can't wait to see the photos from the far side!🌕 It reminds me of a piece I wrote in 2020 about Earthrise, the famous photo from Apollo 8 and why I think it's the most important photo ever taken: jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/11/w...

Birthday trip to Boscobel House to see The Royal Oak (yes, where Charles II hid and why many pubs are named after it) Which reminds me, last chance to buy your copy of ‘What’s in a London Pub Name?’ Only 25 left and when they’re gone, they’re gone! 📚 www.capitaltransport.com/whats-in-a-l...

Weekly canvassing round up 🌹 Door knocking in Junction, Hillrise and Tollington wards. Lots of positive conversations, lots more to come!

New blog. What are my favourite #Parkruns? 🏃🏻 Find out below ⬇️ jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2026/04/03/m...

Looks like the grey barriers have been removed from the Mother Red Cap on Holloway Road. I’ll be asking for an update on what is happening and will let residents know when I hear back. Let’s hope this means the pub will reopen soon! @camraofficial.bsky.social @londonpubmap.bsky.social

Brilliant day launching our @islingtonlabour.bsky.social manifesto in Mildmay Ward with @emilythornberry.bsky.social. We’re proud of our record and our manifesto is packed with great policies for the next 4 years. 🌹 @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social @islingtonsouth.bsky.social

🌹🚪👍🏻 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social

Really pleased to see resurfacing works completed on Vorley Road in Archway! In our recent Budget @islingtonlabour.bsky.social pledged an additional £4 million into fixing our roads. #OnYourSide

Sunny day speaking to residents in Junction Ward this lunchtime. Lovely blossom trees signalling that spring is on the way! 🌹🌸

Junction Ward Labour doing what it does best. Speaking to voters, picking up casework, getting stuff done. ✅ Really great to be out on the doors yesterday and today! 🌹

Given yesterday’s Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee coincided with World Book Day in the National Year of Reading, I had to ask a question about it as @islington-council.bsky.social’s Reading Champion. 📚 You can watch it below. #WorldBookDay

New blog. ✍🏻 This one I’d say is quite important given the amount of time we’re spending on our phones these days!📱 Find out more below ⬇️ jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/h...

Always great to be out speaking to voters in Junction Ward this morning 🌹

Budget Full Council tonight 💷 Proud to vote in favour of a balanced budget that invests in our borough. This includes our £5m Making it Happen fund. Very sad it’s Cllr Janet Burgess’ last meeting after 25 years of service. The best of us! #IslingtonFC @islingtonlabour.bsky.social

Statement from Junction Ward Labour Councillors on Gail's Bakery, Archway: “We are appalled by the damage caused to Gail's on Junction Road. This is the second occasion the store has been targeted with graffiti and vandalism this month, and it is totally wrong.

'This is how we get to actively love our neighbours' - another busy few days in Laycock Ward with @islington-labour.bsky.social for @nuturan.bsky.social, Maia Hamilton and I. Rain or shine we will always be there for you 🌹

Some really welcome news from the Government today! ✅ Powers to speed up implementation of children’s wellbeing consultation outcome ✅ Preserving online data in tragic events of children’s deaths ✅ Powers to close loopholes to keep AI chatbots safe from illegal content

I’m back blogging about pubs again 📝 Join me on a crawl around My Favourite Pubs in Covent Garden 🍺 jamespottsblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/m...

Another excellent sunny Saturday on the doorstep this morning in Junction Ward. ☀️ Lots of good conversations with residents, casework picked up and lots of Labour voters too! 🌹 Loving the new playground that we’ve put in place thanks to our Thriving Neighbourhoods Programme! 🛝

The rain doesn’t stop us canvassing in Junction Ward! 🌧️ Great to speak to resident on the doorstep this morning 🌹 @islingtonlabour.bsky.social @islingtonnlabour.bsky.social

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.