[3] In the borough elections of May 2014 he led the Islington Labour Party to an increased majority on the council.
He graduated with a degree in politics from Durham University and before this worked in the Pretty Polly tights factory in Nottinghamshire.
He represented the ultra-safe Tollington ward in the north of Islington from the 2006 until stepping down in 2021, during which time he led the council's Labour group.
Watts stated “unprecedented” funding pressure also demand for services addressing adult and children's social care and homelessness was “pushing councils to the limit.
Losing a further £1.3bn of central government funding at this time is going to tip many councils over the edge.