About Emily - and what she stands for

Emily was elected to Parliament as Islington South & Finsbury's MP in the General Election on 5 May 2005.

Emily has lived in Islington for 12 years and has three young children who attend state schools. Raised up by a single parent living on a council estate, her early experiences as a child have always motivated her both personally and politically. Her mother has been a lifetime Labour supporter and Emily joined the Labour Party aged 17.

Emily has a strong sense of justice and traditional Labour values. She has been active in anti-racist campaigns across London. She campaigned successfully at the national level with trade unions and parents’ groups for more family-friendly employment policies and access to childcare – particularly for women. She is backed by the TGWU and has strong links with other trade unions.

As a human rights lawyer in the chambers of Mike Mansfield QC, she has many years’ experience of representing people as a criminal lawyer, working to achieve greater justice, equality and human rights.

Most of all, Emily cares about poverty and disadvantage in our Borough and across London.

She says “Life for the people of Islington is getting better because we have a Labour government. Our economy is stronger and the money that the government is investing in Islington is making real improvements. Half of Islington has benefited enormously from the economic growth, but the poor have been left behind.

“I believe that Labour’s priority in our third term in government must be to tackle poverty in Inner London. In London 41% of our children and 36% of pensioners still live below the poverty line. Labour has pledged to end poverty in this country and my priority is achieving this goal.”