Former housing boss Philip Glanville is the new mayor of Hackney after a predictably comfortable victory in yesterday’s by-election – but less than 20 per cent of voters had their say.

Philip, who was earlier this year appointed deputy mayor, received 22,595 of the 32,778 votes – 69 per cent. He will move to the hot seat following Jules Pipe’s decision to move to City Hall as Sadiq Khan’s planning chief.

Just 18.6 per cent of the 178,203 electorate voted, and only 14.4pc ventured to the polling station. Almost 40pc of the votes were done by postal ballot.

Green candidate Samir Jeraj came second with 4,338 votes (13pc), followed by Tory Amy Gray who won 3,533 (11pc).

Lib Dem Dave Raval won 1,818 (6pc) while bringing up the rear was Dawa Ma from the One Love party with 494 votes (2pc). The people who backed Dawa had maybe done so before she urged people not to vote for her last night on Twitter.

Some have blamed voter fatigue for the poor turnout, which fell from 70,000 when Jules Pipe was re-elected two years ago.

Philip, who was first elected as a Hoxton Labour councillor in 2006, revealed his top three policies last week in an interview with the Gazette.

He said: “I’ve been a campaigning councillor for the last 10 years – fighting to build a better, fairer and more sustainable Hackney.

“Top of my agenda is building more genuinely affordable homes. I’ll double the number the council builds and ensure at least 500 are at the London Living Rent.

“I’ll build the new schools we need and provide better support for families – introducing a Hackney childcare bursary to increase provision and affordability of local childcare.

“I’ll defend our frontline services, like libraries and Homerton hospital, from damaging Tory cuts. I passionately believe with me as Mayor we can build a Hackney that works for everyone.

“I’m 36 and currently deputy mayor having previously been cabinet member for housing. I’m a lifelong campaigner and have worked for an HIV charity in Old Street and in various roles in Parliament.

“I was born in Hillingdon, moving to Worcester aged eight, before moving back to London in 1999 to go to university. I’ve been a private renter in Hackney since 2003 and live with my husband of five and a half years. When I have spare time I enjoy Hackney’s cultural and culinary scene.”

Check the Gazette website later this afternoon for an interview with the new mayor.