Caroline Woodley
Caroline Woodley | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Mayor of Hackney | |
| In office 9 November 2023 – 11 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Philip Glanville |
| Succeeded by | Zoë Garbett |
| Hackney Borough Councillor for Cazenove | |
| In office 8 May 2018 – 9 November 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Sharer |
| Succeeded by | Ian Sharer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Caroline Rebecca Woodley |
| Party | Labour |
| Children | 1 |
Caroline Rebecca Woodley is a British Labour Party politician who served as Mayor of Hackney from 2023[1] until 2026.
Political career
Woodley joined the Labour Party in 2015, following the Conservative Party's win in that year's general election.[2] She was elected to Hackney London Borough Council in 2018 for the Cazenove ward, gaining her seat from the Liberal Democrats, and was re-elected in 2022.[3][4] She became the cabinet member for families, parks and leisure.[5]
Mayor of Hackney
Woodley was elected Mayor of Hackney in a by-election held on 9 November 2023,[5] becoming the borough's third directly elected mayor following the resignation of her predecessor, Philip Glanville.[6] She was the first woman to be elected Mayor of Hackney.[2] Woodley ran for re-election in 2026 and came second to Zoë Garbett.[7]
During Woodley's mayoralty, Hackney Labour's handling of the Laura Pascal affair drew criticism from rival parties. Pascal, selected as Labour's candidate for the Cazenove by-election triggered by Woodley's elevation to mayor, was suspended days before the January 2024 vote following allegations of transphobia, before being reinstated on the eve of polling day.[8][9] The Hackney Green Party stated that calls to address concerns about Pascal's selection had been "met with silence", while both Hackney Labour and London Labour failed to respond to press questions about whether they had been aware of her views prior to her selection.[10] Labour lost the subsequent by-election to the Conservatives, with its vote total falling 46% compared to Woodley's 2022 result, and in 2026 the Green Party won two of the three Cazenove council seats, with Labour winning none.[11][12]
Personal life
Woodley has a son, whom she raised as a single parent.[13]
References
- ↑ "Register of Members' Interests - Mayor Caroline Woodley". Hackney London Borough Council. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- 1 2 Sall, Maya (3 April 2024). "'What have I done?' Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley on her first 100 days in office". Hackney Citizen. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ↑ Colombeau, Joseph (October 2018). "London Borough Council Elections: 3 May 2018" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ↑ Heywood, Joe; Loftus, Caitlin (March 2023). "London Borough Council Elections: May 2022" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- 1 2 "Hackney mayor: Labour's Caroline Woodley elected". BBC News. BBC. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ "Labour win mayoral election after paedophile scandal resignation". Hackney Gazette. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ "This week Caroline Woodley announced that she is re-standing for election as Mayor. She is ambitious about what we can achieve together in Hackney and is the first candidate to put out a listening survey". Hackney Labour via Facebook. 28 September 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ↑ "Labour suspends Cazenove by-election candidate following allegation of transphobia". Hackney Citizen. 15 January 2024.
- ↑ "Labour lifts suspension of by-election candidate accused of transphobia on eve of vote". Hackney Citizen. 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Labour suspends Cazenove by-election candidate following allegation of transphobia". Hackney Citizen. 15 January 2024.
- ↑ "Hackney Labour's Laura Pascal in shock by-election loss after row". LabourList. 19 January 2024.
- ↑ "Local election results". Hackney Council. 2026.
- ↑ Woodley, Caroline (2023). "Caroline for Mayor". Retrieved 24 November 2025.