Tributes pour in for legendary Jewish Labour councillor Judi Billing, who has died

Tributes have poured in for the popular and long-serving Jewish Labour councillor Judi Billing MBE, after her family confirmed she had passed away, aged 71.

The Jewish Labour Movement, of whom she was a member, described Billing, who served as a councillor for over 40 years, as “an amazing woman and a true friend to us.”

The group sent “love and support to her family and friends” after her death was confirmed on social media on Thursday.

Labour NEC member Luke Akehurst added:”Very sad to hear that the wonderful Judi Billing, one of Labour’s local government heroes, and a member of the party’s national constitutional committee, has passed away.
She will be deeply missed.”

Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, who served alongside her said: “I am heartbroken to learn that my great inspiration, mentor and friend Judi Billing, leader of our county Labour Group and a towering figure of Labour local government, has passed away.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her children, grandchildren and great grandchild all of whom she was rightly inordinately proud.”

Cross-party colleagues in Hertfordshire also paid tribute to their “friend, mentor and role model.”

Growing up in London’s multi-racial Paddington Billing once said the thing she understood was that if you opposed racism, you had to get involved with Labour.

As a member of the North Herts council executive and leader of Herts County Council Labour Group, Billings had regularly spoken of her Jewish background, none more so than we condemning the rise of antisemitism in the party.

She represented Hitchin Bearton on North Herts Council for 42 years and Hitchin North at Hertfordshire County Council for nine.

A mother, grandmother and great-grandmother shewas awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to local government.

She regularly participated in Holocaust Memorial Day events in her local area, and further afield.

A spokesperson for North Herts Labour said: “”All of us throughout the Labour Party will greatly miss Judi for her humour, kind-heartedness, and drive to make Hertfordshire a better place for all.

“We send our deepest condolences to her family and other friends. RIP Judi.”