THE leader of Barnet’s Labour group Councillor Alison Moore will step down next month.

The East Finchley councillor, who has led Barnet Labour since 2005, told the group she will relinquish her role at a meeting last night.

It follows the announcement last week that she had been shortlisted as a candidate for the London Assembly elections next year.

In a statement, Cllr Moore said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the Barnet Labour Group over the past ten years and to nurture what has become a confident and able set of councillors.

“I’m proud to have led a Group that has fought resolutely on the side of our residents in the face of unfair Tory policies and cuts to services locally and nationally - listening to and defending local people on parking, libraries, children’s centres, housing and more.

“The thirty strong Labour Group is now the largest in the history of Barnet and represents wards and communities right across the borough.”

Cllr Moore added: “In 2014 Labour, through our campaign for a “Better Barnet”, came within little more than a hundred votes of taking outright control of Barnet Council and needs to win just two more seats to do so in 2018. I will be leaving that task in the hands of a fantastic Labour team.

“I will remain Leader until the Labour Group select my successor on December 3rd and I will then step up to the exciting challenge of fighting as a London wide Candidate in the London Assembly Elections next May.

“I have learnt so much over the past ten years as Leader of the Labour Group in Barnet and hope that I can bring my experience of the largest outer London Borough and energy as a campaigning councillor to help elect a Labour Mayor and Assembly to serve the whole of London.”

First elected as a councillor in East Finchley in 1998, Cllr Moore served as cabinet member for education and children from 1999 to 2002. She was elected deputy group leader in 2003 and became leader of the group and opposition in 2005.

She also stood as a parliamentary candidate for Finchley and Golders Green in 2010, when she was beaten by former Conservative Barnet Council leader Mike Freer.

Speculation mounted over her future following last year’s local elections, when Labour narrowly lost gaining control of the council - but Cllr Moore insisted she had the confidence of many members.

She also recently survived a leadership challenge from Councillor Ross Houston in May this year.

The group will choose a new leader next month.