Councilor ‘who never shied away from a challenge’ resigns to trigger north London by-election

A council by-election will be held on the same day as the general election following the resignation of a north London councillor. Eleanor Southwood MBE, who was born blind, is standing down after representing Brent residents for a decade.

Since she was first elected as a councilor in 2014, Eleanor has represented residents in Queen’s Park ward. She has held two cabinet posts during her tenure, one in environmental services and more recently housing and local financial support.

Her departure means Queen’s Park needs a new representative, with a by-election due to take place on July 4 – the same day as the UK general election. There are no details yet on who will throw their hat in the ring, but the parties are expected to announce their candidates in the next two weeks.

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Eleanor stepped down from her cabinet post last year before being appointed director of social impact, Fight for Sight/Vision Foundation – a sight loss charity based in London. She is also a past president of the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB).

Leader of Brent Council, Cllr Muhammed Butt, paid tribute to the outgoing councillor, calling it an “honour and a pleasure” to work alongside her and wished her “all the best” for the future. Cllr Butt said: “Never one to shy away from a challenge, Ellie has served in cabinet in two crucial positions (…). As the severity of health inequalities in the neighborhood emerged in 2020, Ellie’s tireless work at Brent’s Poverty Commission sought to right these wrongs; and make practical, evidence-based recommendations on how to reduce poverty in our communities.

He added: “And its impact still rings true today, with our Resident Support Fund serving as a lifeline for so many in the borough. Ellie has been a fierce advocate – not just for her Queens Park residents – but for Brent as a whole, knowing that we can’t really make progress together if we leave anyone behind. She set the bar high – and we’re going to keep it there.”

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