London Borough of Islington

London Borough of Islington, administrative region, London, England. Islington lies north of the City of London, bordered by the boroughs of Camden, Haringey, and Hackney. It includes the suburbs of Highbury, Tufnell Park, Upper Holloway, Finsbury Park, Canonbury, Clerkenwell, Finsbury, and Tollington. Although some areas have in recent years suffered from poor social and economic conditions, for example, high unemployment, other parts of the borough, such as Barnsbury and Clerkenwell, have become affluent and fashionable, attracting large numbers of young professionals. Clerkenwell in particular has been the focus of a new trend in urban living: the re-development of former warehouse and office buildings into apartments or “live-work” spaces, mirroring the loft culture first seen in parts of Manhattan. The borough contains Holloway prison and the Arsenal football ground. It also has large Irish and Afro-Caribbean populations.

In 1965 Greater London was created under the jurisdiction of the Greater London Council. This council was abolished in 1986, and each inner and outer borough and the City of London itself had its own governing council as the sole administrative authority from then until 2000. The borough councils consist of councillors elected every four years, who in turn annually elect their presiding official. Councils are responsible for the provision of most local services including education, housing, social services, local planning, roads, refuse collection, recreation, and culture.

On May 4, 2000, the people of London voted in a new London mayor, Ken Livingstone, and a 25-strong cross-party assembly, together known as the Greater London Authority. A new mayor is elected every four years; Livingstone served two terms, but was defeated by Conservative MP Boris Johnson in the 2008 mayoral election. Although the mayor has limited budget-raising powers, the position includes responsibility for the police, fire service, health, and public transport. Population 175,787 (2001).