| Election Name: | 2002 Islington Council election |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Party Colour: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Previous Election: | 1998 Islington Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1998 |
| Next Election: | 2006 Islington Council election |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
| Seats For Election: | All council seats |
| Election Date: | 2 May 2002 |
| Leader1: | Steve Hitchins |
| Leader Since1: | 1997 |
| Party1: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Leaders Seat1: | St. Peter's |
| Last Election1: | 26 seats, 41.4% |
| Seats1: | 38 |
| Seat Change1: | 12 |
| Popular Vote1: | 45,754 |
| Percentage1: | 45.8% |
| Swing1: | 4.4% |
| Leader2: | Mary Creagh |
| Leader Since2: | 2000 |
| Party2: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Leaders Seat2: | Highbury West |
| Last Election2: | 26 seats, 40.6% |
| Seats2: | 10 |
| Seat Change2: | 16 |
| Popular Vote2: | 35,651 |
| Percentage2: | 35.7% |
| Swing2: | 4.9% |
| Party3: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Last Election3: | 0 seats, 6.3% |
| Seats3: | 0 |
| Popular Vote3: | 10,775 |
| Percentage3: | 10.8% |
| Swing3: | 4.5% |
| Leader of Largest Party | |
| Posttitle: | Subsequent Leader of Largest Party |
| Before Election: | Steve Hitchins |
| Before Party: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| After Election: | Steve Hitchins |
| After Party: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
The 2002 Islington Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Islington London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 1998 reducing the number of seats by 4.[1] The Liberal Democrats stayed in overall control of the council.[2]
The 1998 election saw the Liberal Democrat and Labour parties finish on 26 seats each, with Labour continuing to run the council with the mayor's casting vote.[3] However, in December 1999 the Liberal Democrats won a majority on the council after gaining a seat from Labour in a by-election.[4] This meant that going into the election the Liberal Democrats had 27 seats, compared to 25 for Labour.[5]
187 candidates stood in the election for the 48 seats being contested, after boundary changes reduced the number of seats by 4.[5] The election was seen as a fight between the Liberal Democrat and Labour parties, with the Green Party aiming to win 1 or 2 seats.[5] The Conservative party did not put candidates for every seat being contested, while the Christian Peoples Alliance, Independent Working Class Association, Socialist Alliance and Socialist Labour Party all stood candidates, as well as several independents.[5]
Issues in the election were reported as being crime, council housing repairs, asset sell-offs and the proposed new Arsenal stadium.[5]
The results saw the Liberal Democrats retain control of the council with an increased majority after gaining seats from Labour.[6]