A penny-pinching council has been accused of ‘stealing Christmas’ after it axed its festive lights in an apparent bid to save money.

Labour-run Islington Council in London, home to some of the wealthiest people in the capital, made the unpopular decision to scrap the bright display despite the tradition stretching back 15 years.

The move has sparked criticism not just from families, but from some councillors who did not learn of the plans until it was ‘too late’.

One told the Islington Tribune the rented lights were moved elsewhere and a last-minute alternative was offered, but at an incredibly expensive rate. 

It comes after then finance chief, Cllr Diarmaid Ward, assured locals in January that the annual display would go ahead as usual this year.

Among the streets lacking the festive touch is swish Upper Street in Angel, which falls into the constituency of Labour deputy leadership candidate Emily Thornberry.

Much of the area hit by the Christmas black-out is placed within Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North constituency, for which he has been MP since 1983. 

Terry Stacy, former Liberal Democrat council leader, has organised the lights in Highbury for more than a decade.

Islington Council has been accused of ‘stealing Christmas’ after it axed its festive lights in an apparent bid to save money (pictured: lights on a high street in a past year)

The council, home to some of the wealthiest people in the capital, made the unpopular decision to scrap the bright display (pictured: Upper Street in Islington)

He said: ‘This would have been the 15th year if the council hadn’t axed them. 

‘They never officially told us they were going to axe the funding, but when we tried to engage with the council saying we would fundraise ourselves, there was just no response. It was baffling.’ 

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He added that he had joined three Green councillors in Highbury in asking how much it would cost to host the light-switching themselves, but they received no reply. 

The ceremony has attracted top celebrities, including Suggs from Madness, in the past and is often attended by hundreds of locals. 

‘We won’t let them cancel Christmas in Highbury, but it’s unbelievably disappointing.’ Mr Stacy added. 

The lights were also cancelled in neighbouring Whitecross Street, with independent councillor Phil Graham ruing the change in the yearly Christmas festivities.

High streets in Nag’s Head and Blackstock Road have also faced a black-out this Christmas due to cost-cutting measures.

Some areas, including Angel Central shopping centre, are relying on independent businesses to erect festive displays in the absence of council-organised decorations. 

Much of the area hit by the Christmas black-out is placed within Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North constituency, for which he has been MP since 1983 (pictured: Mr Corbyn this month)

Among the streets lacking the festive touch is swish Upper Street in Angel, which falls into the constituency of Labour deputy leadership candidate Emily Thornberry, pictured

The Town Hall’s culture chief Cllr Santiago Bell-Bradford said the council was prioritising ‘essential services’ over decorations, such as the Christmas lights, but insisted it has put up Christmas trees and organised events across the borough.

The Daily Mail has approached Islington Council for comment.

MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry have also been contacted for comment. 

It comes after motorists complained their cars and bikes are stalling after Islington Council introduced a 10mph speed limit on one of its roads. 

The local authority has painted the restriction on St John Street, just north of Smithfield Market.

The Labour-run council said the limit will only apply while roadworks, which are expected to last for six months, are in place.

But motorists have been left outraged by the move and said the new limit is impossible to stick to because it will mean vehicles are constantly stalling.

Local resident Phil Cudlipp, 68, says he already struggles to ride his Harley-Davidson at 20mph, let alone 10mph.

It comes after the council painted new 10mph restrictions on St John Street, just north of Smithfield Market

He said: ‘I walk everywhere now – there’s nowhere to park my bike nine times out of ten.

‘With all these restrictions, it’s just not a viable option. If I was going long distance it’d be fine.

‘If it was 30 in the past, why isn’t it still the same? It don’t add up to me.

‘At 10 mph, straight away people are going to be going slower, so they’re going to pile up behind each other.

‘At traffic lights there’ll be a lot more people sitting there and that means there’s a lot more cars ticking over going nowhere.’