About your Labour councillors

Stoke Newington Central ward is represented by three Labour councillors: Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Cllr Rita Krishna and Cllr Louisa Thomson who were elected to represent this ward in the local elections on 6th May 2010.

Cllr Rita Krishna
Rita Krishna has been a Labour Councillor for Stoke Newington Central Ward since 2002. Aged 50, Rita has lived in the ward on Princess May Road for over twenty years.

Since 2005 she has worked full-time as Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. During this time she has helped oversee a period of dramatic improvement in Hackney schools, with GCSE results now at the national average, popular new City Academies opening and other schools rebuilt through Building Schools for the Future. She has also ensured high standards of social care for vulnerable children in Hackney. Rita is also a Board Member of The Learning Trust, Hackney Community College, and the City Academy Hackney.

Locally in the ward, Rita’s achievements include campaigning with residents to stop the application for a pole dancing establishment locally, stopping the license application for 35-39 Stoke Newington High Street so it did not become another late night bar, and securing the section 106 money from the development at 2-26 Somerford Grove for use on the local estate and the local school (the money was at risk because of a complex land transfer planning matter).

Cllr Louisa Thomson

Louisa Thomson has been a Labour Councillor for Stoke Newington Central Ward since winning a stunning by-election victory in January 2009.

Louisa is 30. She has lived in Hackney for seven years and works as a youth policy researcher. Louisa’s achievements include securing Decent Homes and wider block improvements for Morris Blitz Court after years of neglect and campaigning for the improvement of Kynaston Gardens – now being led by a community group who are applying for funding to bring it back into use.

Louisa’s community activity includes:

• School Governor at Princess May Primary School (in SNC) – playing a role in helping to publicise the school in the local community, and improve its links with other organisations and activities in Stoke Newington.
• Serving on the Management Board of the Old Fire Station – working to sort out a proper lease for the group.
• Police Community Advisory Panel member.

Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas

Susan is 46 and has two children. She lives in Stoke Newington with her family for seventeen years. She works with an inner London Community Police Engagement Group, which centres around helping to provide a forum in which local people can engage the Police.

Susan has been extremely active in the local community. Susan is a School Governor at Grasmere Primary School on Albion Road. She has a long standing commitment to decent and well managed housing for people living in social housing and was the Chair of her estate Tenants and Residents Association for many years.

She is the Vice Chair of Stoke Newington Housing Neighbourhood Panel and helped to to galvanise residents' support for Hackney Homes to achieve 2 star status. She is the Chair of Howard Road Resource Centre Management Committee, a centre that provides internet access and various well-being activities for people living in social housing in the area.

Susan’s top priorities are decent housing, improving local schools, and support for families and children.

Jules Pipe is the elected Labour Mayor for Hackney. Jules was elected in 2002, and is the political leader of the Council, overseeing the Budget and all council services. You can read more about Jules' priorities for Hackney here and get in touch with the Mayor here.

Diane Abbott is the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and therefore represents Stoke Newington Central ward residents at Westminster. You can contact her about any issue, especially if it concerns national government policy. Diane can help you directly with immigration and asylum cases, problems with tax credits, and any other matter relating to central government. You can contact her by writing to Diane Abbott MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, or on 0207 219 4426 or visit her website.

Jennette Arnold is North East London's representative on the London Assembly. If you have problems with Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, the Fire Service, or any London-wide issue she might be able to help you. Jennette is Chair of the Assembly. Find out more about her work here or contact her on jennette.arnold@london.gov.uk.