Heather Johnson, a Labour councillor who lost her seat after 32 years, has said that as chair of the planning committee, everyone hates you. She was one of the high-profile casualties of Labour losses in the council elections, as the Greens won all three seats in the Regent's Park ward, traditionally a safe area for the ruling party.
A Storied Career
Johnson has been a well-known figure at the Town Hall, serving as a councillor for 32 years, twice as Mayor of Camden, and most notably as the chair of the planning committee since 2013. In this role, she oversaw controversial developments that frequently came before councillors. Reflecting on her tenure, she said: "As chair of planning, everyone hates you — of course, people might not agree with the committee's decisions but I think, on the whole, we have got things right."
Challenges of Planning Law
Johnson emphasized that councillors work within tight legislative constraints. "People often do not appreciate that we work within the quite tight legislation that is planning law. It is how we can use that legislation to get the best for the borough," she explained.
Reasons for the Loss
Johnson attributed the loss of Regent's Park ward to a combination of factors. "I think it is hard to call any seat a safe seat anymore," she said, noting that cabinet member Nadia Shah and former council leader Nash Ali were also defeated. "There were lots of different things that played into the result we had. People's views are changing and I feel they may be more nuanced than they ever have been. We cannot say we did not suffer from the unpopularity that comes with being an incumbent — that is always very difficult."
She added: "The fact is when you are in power, you have to tell the truth. You cannot fly kites or fill leaflets with promises you have no intention of keeping, and you know you will be held to account. We have kept our promises. We have done what we said we would do. And everything we have done has been for the betterment of the people of Regent's Park."
What's Next
Johnson expressed what she will miss most: "I will miss working with council officers, the camaraderie of the Labour group, I will miss being able to do things that make the lives of people in Camden better. I will miss being at the heart of decision making and seeing it in the round and how it impacts across the borough."
The story in Regent's Park is not over, as one of the winning Green candidates, Muhammad Abu Naser, cannot be inducted due to his employment as a teacher in a local secondary school. A by-election is now expected to take place almost immediately. Johnson said if asked to stand again, she would happily step forward — but first, she plans to rest. "What I want to do next is firstly have a nice long sleep — and then go on a cruise," she said.
