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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 16 May 2008

Jennette Arnold

‘Daughter of migrants’ to oversee Boriswatch

ISLINGTON’S representative, Jennette Arnold, has become the first black woman to chair the London Assembly.
The Labour Assembly member for North East constituency – spanning Hackney, Waltham Forest and Islington – doubled her majority when she was re-elected on May 1.
It is the third term in City Hall for the “daughter of migrants” who came to Islington from Long Ground, a village in the Caribbean paradise of Montserrat, later devastated by a volcano in 1996.
She said: “It is a great honour to be elected as chair of the London Assembly and particularly to be the first black woman to hold the post. This is symbolic of London’s greatest strengths – its diversity, tolerance, inclusion and opportunity for all. That opportunity has enabled me, the daughter of migrants, to rise to hold one of the highest offices in our great city.
“It’s been a long road from Long Ground to City Hall.”
The London Assembly is the body responsible for scrutinising how London mayor Boris Johnson administers his £11 billion budget.
She added: “I look forward to leading the London Assembly in our key role of holding the mayor to account for the pledges he has made to London. I aim to work with all colleagues who show themselves interested in moving London forward in a progressive way.”
In 2007, Ms Arnold was listed among the top 50 most powerful black women in Britain, in a survey published by New Nation newspaper.

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