Claire Kober
Encyclopedia
Cllr Claire Kober is a Labour Party
politician in Haringey
, north London
, England
.
She was born in Canvey Island
in Essex
in 1978 and was educated at the University of Keele and the University of East Anglia
. She was involved in youth and student politics holding various roles before being elected as National Vice-President of the National Union of Students (NUS).
After leaving NUS, Kober worked in the voluntary sector for End Child Poverty, Leonard Cheshire
and the Family Welfare Association (now Family Action). She is married and has lived in Muswell Hill
for the past 12 years.
She was selected as Labour's Council candidate for Muswell Hill
in 2002 running alongside Bill Freeman and Catherine Stafford. Despite her defeat, she stood again (unsuccessfully) for election in a Muswell Hill by-election in 2004. However, success came third time around when she was elected to Haringey Council to represent the Seven Sisters ward in south Tottenham
on 4 May 2006. In November 2008, having served as Labour's Chief Whip, she was elected Leader of the Council in succession to Cllr George Meehan, who resigned following the death of Death of Baby P
.
An early test of her leadership came in the form a by-election in her own ward of Seven Sisters in January 2009 following the death of Cllr Fred Knight. The winning candidate was Labour’s Joe Goldberg, an NUS colleague, who was quickly elected as the Labour group’s Chief Whip.
In October 2009, she pledged to freeze Council Tax along with other Labour Councils in the capital.
Following the retirement of Haringey's Chief Executive, Dr Ita O'Donovan, whom Claire was said to have developed a close bond with, she appointed Kevin Crompton as Haringey's new Chief Executive. He previously served as Chief Executive of Luton Council.
Claire Kober led Haringey Labour into the borough-wide elections on 6 May 2010. Despite predictions that Labour was set to lose control for the first time since 1968, the Party increased its majority and now has 34 Councillors out of 57. Not a single Conservative Councillor was elected in Haringey.
She appointed a new Cabinet in May 2010 which included five women and two men.
On 8 June 2010, Claire Kober was appointed by Hackney Mayor, Jules Pipe, as Deputy Chair of London Councils - the body which represents the interests of the 32 London Borough Councils. She is the lead spokesperson on crime and public protection.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician in Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
, north London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
She was born in Canvey Island
Canvey Island
Canvey Island is a civil parish and reclaimed island in the Thames estuary in England. It is separated from the mainland of south Essex by a network of creeks...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1978 and was educated at the University of Keele and the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
. She was involved in youth and student politics holding various roles before being elected as National Vice-President of the National Union of Students (NUS).
After leaving NUS, Kober worked in the voluntary sector for End Child Poverty, Leonard Cheshire
Leonard Cheshire
Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and Two Bars, DFC was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War....
and the Family Welfare Association (now Family Action). She is married and has lived in Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a suburb of north London, mostly in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated about north of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. Muswell Hill is in the N10 postal district and mostly in the Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency.- History :The...
for the past 12 years.
She was selected as Labour's Council candidate for Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a suburb of north London, mostly in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated about north of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. Muswell Hill is in the N10 postal district and mostly in the Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency.- History :The...
in 2002 running alongside Bill Freeman and Catherine Stafford. Despite her defeat, she stood again (unsuccessfully) for election in a Muswell Hill by-election in 2004. However, success came third time around when she was elected to Haringey Council to represent the Seven Sisters ward in south Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
on 4 May 2006. In November 2008, having served as Labour's Chief Whip, she was elected Leader of the Council in succession to Cllr George Meehan, who resigned following the death of Death of Baby P
Death of Baby P
Peter Connelly was an English 17-month old boy who died in London after suffering more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, during which he was repeatedly seen by Haringey Children's services and NHS health professionals...
.
An early test of her leadership came in the form a by-election in her own ward of Seven Sisters in January 2009 following the death of Cllr Fred Knight. The winning candidate was Labour’s Joe Goldberg, an NUS colleague, who was quickly elected as the Labour group’s Chief Whip.
In October 2009, she pledged to freeze Council Tax along with other Labour Councils in the capital.
Following the retirement of Haringey's Chief Executive, Dr Ita O'Donovan, whom Claire was said to have developed a close bond with, she appointed Kevin Crompton as Haringey's new Chief Executive. He previously served as Chief Executive of Luton Council.
Claire Kober led Haringey Labour into the borough-wide elections on 6 May 2010. Despite predictions that Labour was set to lose control for the first time since 1968, the Party increased its majority and now has 34 Councillors out of 57. Not a single Conservative Councillor was elected in Haringey.
She appointed a new Cabinet in May 2010 which included five women and two men.
On 8 June 2010, Claire Kober was appointed by Hackney Mayor, Jules Pipe, as Deputy Chair of London Councils - the body which represents the interests of the 32 London Borough Councils. She is the lead spokesperson on crime and public protection.