Deputy Janet Burgess Preceded by Daniel Bonner Education Durham University Preceded by Catherine West Role Politician | Deputy Janet Burgess Name Richard Watts Preceded by Catherine West Political party Labour Party Labour Party | |
Richard Watts (born 1975), is a Labour Party politician, currently Council Leader of Islington London Borough Council, England.
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He was elected to the role in October 2013. In the borough elections of May 2014 he led the Islington Labour Party to an increased majority on the Council.
Early life
Watts attended Haywood Comprehensive School, Nottingham. He graduated with a degree in politics from Durham University and before this worked in the Pretty Polly tights factory in Nottinghamshire.
Career
Watts has lived in Islington for 15 years, representing Tollington ward in the north of Islington since 2006.
Before becoming a full-time member of Islington Council’s Executive, Watts ran the Children’s Food Campaign, a national campaign to improve children’s diets. Previously he worked for a number of different campaigns and a consultancy organisation, which led to some work in the Balkans, including working in Kosovo helping develop democratic political parties.
He is a governor of City and Islington College.