John Abiona
Valerie-Bossman Quarshie on campaigning for Bunhill Credit: Boateng Photography
- Credit: Boateng Photography
Valerie Bossman-Quarshie is used to getting things done. She recalls how sixth form was the place where she began to learn the craft of becoming a vote winner.
“My first taste of politics was when I went for the position of head girl,” she says, as she was “one of very few black girls” in her school. Valerie also made sure there was money left over to buy a sofa because, “sixth formers want to be cool and have somewhere to hang out”. She tells me she was happy this could be achieved “because I managed to do that in my little premiership as head girl”.
“I want to dedicate this to my three wonderful boys. They are the future and I hope you are proud of dad.
In St Peter’s, Labour’s Toby North gained the winning vote with 1,885 people selecting him, on a 44.8 per cent turnout with 4,446 people turning out.
Second was Lib Dems’ Victoria Mei Elizabeth Collins (876), followed by the Conservatives’ Muhammad Kalaam (749), followed by the Greens’ Veronica Pasteur (567), and independent candidate Jody Graber coming last with 318 votes.
Mr North said: “Thank you to all the fellow candidates who have run a very good-natured campaign, and to the voters of St Peter’s who have delivered a fantastic vote of confidence in Islington Labour. I look forward to working very hard as your councillor, working with residents across the board in the coming months.”
John Abiona
Islington Christmas Day soup kitchen volunteers.
- Credit: Ross Griffiths, Mark Appleby and Zak Vora
Islington residents rallied together to set up outdoor soup kitchens by Angel Station and Old Street Station on Christmas Day.
The initiative was open to all but focused on feeding the elderly, hungry and homeless around the borough.
A team of 13 volunteers handed out more than 300 meals from noon onwards on Christmas Day.
Two stalls were set up at each site to comply with the new Covid rules.
One of the stalls served tea, coffee and biscuits while the other served hot food including chicken Biriyani, vegetable curry and vegetarian samosas, as well as crisps, fruit, yoghurt and bottled water.