Labour has selected a senior councillor as its candidate in the mayoral by-election.

The party will fight to retain the seat it has held since it was introduced 21 years ago after the resignation of Hackney’s directly-elected mayor, Philip Glanville.

Cllr Caroline Woodley is currently the cabinet member for families, parks and leisure.

She was selected from the shortlist by local Labour party members ahead of fellow cabinet member Mete Coban.


Woodley was first elected to the council in 2018, gaining a seat in Cazenove ward from the Liberal Democrats.

She said Hackney needs a “strong and compassionate leader to spearhead a campaigning Labour council".

Woodley added: “I know that right now we need to rebuild trust with the people of Hackney, and I would make this a priority of my administration.”

It comes after Mayor Glanville quit the £87,000-a-year role after apologising for an “error of judgement” when he was photographed at a party with newly elected councillor Tom Dewey hours after learning he had been arrested on paedophilia charges.

Dewey was sentenced in August after admitting five charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Cllr Woodley pledged to continue plans to build more council homes in Hackney to help tackle the housing crisis and make the borough more resilient in the climate crisis. 

She said: “I’m proud to be part of a Labour administration that stands up for community investment and social justice, while doing everything in our power to tackle the climate and housing crisis.

“I know there’s so much to do – from building new council housing, to protecting our local ecology and making the borough more inclusive.

"If elected as the next Mayor of Hackney, I will work tirelessly every day to deliver a greener, fairer borough and the outstanding services our residents deserve.”

The Green Party has picked Dalston councillor Zoë Garbett as its candidate. She is also contesting the London mayoral election next year.

Garbett took second place to Labour in last year’s mayoral election in Hackney, landing 17 per cent of the vote.

The Town Hall has yet to announce the by-election date, but insiders suggest it could be the second week in November.

It has to be held within 35 days of Monday’s (September 25) formal announcement of a vacancy.

Hackney Cycling Campaign has announced that it will hold an election hustings on Wednesday, October 4.