Candidates were quizzed over ‘putting Palestine on the ballot’ in the upcoming local elections

DOZENS of residents fear missing out on casting their ballots as reports flood in of postal votes seemingly going missing.

Constituents across the borough have told the Tribune of their frustration that their card has yet to arrive in their letterbox, despite the Town Hall insisting that batches were sent out almost two weeks ago, on April 17.

There was an allegation that this was yet another failure by Royal Mail and the inability to meet targets was now casting a shadow over the democratic process.

Katie Dawson, who lives in Arsenal, flew to Spain yesterday (Thursday) and spoke of her frustration that her ballot card never arrived.

She will now not be able to vote.

Ms Dawson said: “In local elections, margins can be very small and it can really make a difference.

“It’s frustrating, because I’m going on holiday tomorrow and now I’m fully disenfranchised.

“Obviously local elections only come round every few years and you do want to have your say.”

She added: “It’s ironic that it is an election communication that is suffering from a political decision to privatise national institutions.

“If I’d have known, I would have applied for a proxy, but a postal vote seemed simpler.”

Meanwhile, Paul Convery, who is standing for Labour in the Caledonian ward, said more than a dozen constituents and colleagues had reported waiting almost a fortnight to receive their ballots.

Many people request postal votes because they are unable to make it to the ballot box due to being away or having mobility limitations.

Cllr Convery therefore claimed that there was a “big risk” that “Royal Mail’s institutional poor performance is now disenfranchising a significant number of voters”.

Royal Mail has come under scrutiny in recent months for failing to hit targets.

Last year, for example, only 76 per cent of first-class mail was delivered on time, against a target of 93 per cent.

There are wider concerns that even if the votes arrive today, the 12-day delay is casting doubt over whether the filled-in ballots will make it back to the returning officer in time.

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “All electors that applied for a postal vote for the local council elections on Thursday May 7 have now had their postal pack despatched.

“If you have not received your postal vote by Thursday 30 April, the electoral services team are on hand to help – contact them on electoral.services@islington.gov.uk, call 020 7527 3110 or visit Electoral Services, Room G04, Town Hall, Upper Street, Islington, N1 2UD, where the elections reception is open 9am-5pm every weekday.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We have looked into this with our operational teams and can confirm there are no outstanding postal ballot packs at delivery offices in Islington.

“All items have been processed and delivered as expected.”

Environment: Homes and traffic among big issues

Candidates questioned at the environmental hustings

CANDIDATES were quizzed by residents over their approach to the climate crisis at an environmental hustings, writes Isabel Loubser.

The event last Thursday, organised by a coalition of local environmental groups including Islington Environmental Alliance and Islington Clean Air Parents, saw debate over environmental standards in new-builds, dark kitchens, and liveable neighbourhoods.

Labour’s Rowena Champion argued that her party would continue with the transformation that was already under way “with more Liveable Neighbourhoods, school streets, pavement improvements, cycle routes, and continuing to invest in our wonderful parks and green spaces”. Green leader Benali Hamdache said, however, that the Town Hall was subject to national policy – including a recent funding cut which is curbing the council’s net zero strategy – and that voting for his party was the only way to push back.

He said: “Islington continues to not get the funding it needs to address the climate crisis. We urgently need a reset on this Labour government.”

Meanwhile, Kate Pothalingam, from the Liberal Democrats, said her party supported cutting traffic levels through Liveable Neighbourhoods, but would engage local people in designing new schemes. She pointed out that the Lib Dems have a strong track record on recycling and said they would make it easier for homeowners to make climate-conscious improvements to their flats.

Islington Community Independents candidate Nathaniel Jones told the audience that climate issues cut across “every other problem in society”.

“We need to invest in insulation, double-glazing, heat-pumps”, he said. “What we need is massive investment, and upskilling young people.”

Palestine: Gazans ‘failed’ by Labour government, says leader of the Greens

GREEN Party leader Benali Hamdache told Islington Labour that they could not “shirk their complicity” in the government’s “failure to stand with the people of Gaza”, at a Palestine hustings event this week, writes Finn Logue.

The event, organised by Islington Votes Palestine, saw candidates Benali Hamdache from the Greens, Ilkay Cinko-Oner from Islington Community Independents, and Paul Convery from Labour debate on how their party would be “putting Palestine on the ballot” ahead of the upcoming local elections.

Responding to a question on Islington’s responsibility to provide sanctuary for Palestinian refugees, Cllr Hamdache said: “I am proud of Islington but I am horrified to see a Labour adminis­­tration that is undermining it every single day.”

In his introductory speech, Labour councillor Paul Convery told dozens of attendees that he was “disappointed” that other political parties had not “shown up to speak about Palestine”.

The investment of council pension funds became a recurrent topic of conversation and disagreement, after the Town Hall announced they would be launching a consultation from May 10.

Cllr Convery said: “Our commitment is very, very clear that we will be fully divesting from all companies that profit from conflict and genocide and human rights abuses anywhere in the world.

“We have one of the most ethically sound pension funds of any local authority in the country.”

In response, however, Cllr Cinko-Oner said: “The fact is that we are still investing in companies that are complicit in genocide, so it is not just the UN list that we need to adhere to.

“We need to ensure that any divest­ment going forward has to be compatible with the demands of our residents.”