Cllr Gary Heather in his robes as Mayor of Islington yesterday (Thursday)

ISLINGTON’S new mayor has told how his working-class background and seeing inequality up close inspired him to be a councillor.

Gary Heather was sworn in as the new mayor in last night’s (Thursday’s) annual council meeting – after serving 12 months as deputy to the outgoing mayor, Marian Spall.

“I’m definitely excited to be mayor. When I started off as a councillor I didn’t have any aspiration for it, but then I saw what the role was and I fancied having a go at it,” Cllr Heather told the Tribune.

He has lived in Islington since 1975 and has chosen Voluntary Action as his charity to support, saying: “The thing that really guides me is my working-class background, and that sense of enormous inequality. The way myself and my family were treated – always ignored and under-resourced.

He added “My whole political being is to make society fairer and to reduce inequality.

Cllr Gary Heather announced as mayor

“I thought, that’s exactly the sort of the organisation I want to support, and doing that, I can support all of the organisations that they empower. I’m a believer in people helping other people, but also empowering them as well.

“If someone is in straits, we need to empower them to get out of those straits, and that might be to get a job, but it also might be about raising their consciousness about what’s going on in the world, and how they can play their part – if they’ve not been speaking up, then speak up. Because that was my journey, I was a scared, silent little boy.

“That’s part of the conditioning when you’re working class – not saying anything.”

The mayor’s role is apolitical, but Cllr Heather has been an outspoken trade unionist and political activist for most of his adult life, including formerly being president of Islington Trades ­Council.

“I’ve only gotten this role because I’m an Islington councillor,” he said.

“The council has various values, and I’ve been party to formulating those values of fairness. So, I’m certainly going to talk about things like that and address inequality.

Cllr Tricia Clarke, left, and Cllr Anjna Khurana

“I’ve always thought of myself as a representative of the people, and I work with the people. I will be doing the same as mayor of Islington – I will be a mayor for all of the people of Islington.”

Cllr Heather is most looking forward to overseeing the Citizenship ceremonies run by Islington Council, where people come to confirm their UK citizenship.

“The diversity in the borough is unbelievable – there’s often people from 20 or 25 different countries there. They swear allegiance to the crown and stuff like that, but the light on their faces – they’re absolutely delighted, and they bring their partners and their families and stuff. It touches my heart.”

He added: “I’m really looking forward to getting into that level of the community even further than I’ve already got, and understanding what goes on in the community and who’s doing what. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Tollington councillor Anjna Khurana was named deputy mayor. Cllr Tricia Clarke, Cllr Heather’s civil partner, is the mayor’s consort, but she has chosen to be known as the mayoress.