Two by-elections are to take place in Lambeth

Two by-elections have been triggered for Streatham St Leonard’s ward and Clapham Park ward within the London Borough of Lambeth.

Joanna Eaves became Clapham Park’s first Green councillor following the May 7 local elections but has had to resign due to ill health. A notice of casual vacancy for Clapham Park ward was published on Lambeth Council’s website on Monday (May 18).

Ms Eaves said: “I’ve always believed that politics is about getting out there and listening to residents, doing things, and helping people.

“I was honoured to have been voted in as Clapham Park’s first Green councillor, but due to my ill health, I now won’t be able to do the job justice. As a result, I’ve taken the difficult decision to resign.”

Cllr Verity McGivern and Cllr Martin Tiedemann from Lambeth Labour also represent Clapham Park ward.

Saiqa Ali, who won a seat as a councillor for Streatham St Leonard’s ward, has decided not to take up her seat. She had been a Green Party candidate but was suspended before the election took place but it was too late to change her nomination.

Her suspension came after she allegedly shared a series of anti-Semitic posts on social media. She had apologised “for any offence or distress caused to anyone by my social media posts”, adding that it was not her intention.

A Lambeth Green Party spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that Ali was suspended by the national Green party before the election, and was not a member of the Lambeth Green Group.

Two Green Party candidates were arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred online in April. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the LDRS the two women remain on bail while enquiries continue.

Ms Ali had won the local seat alongside Green Party candidates, Scott Ainslie who is the former leader of the Lambeth Green Group, and Dr Alice Weavers.

Ms Ali’s name remained as a candidate for the Green Party on ballot papers because the election nomination deadline had passed and could not be changed due to electoral law.

In a statement, Ms Ali said: “I unequivocally reject anti-Semitism in all its forms. My comments were rooted in concern for the humanitarian situation in the Middle East, and I remain committed to speaking with care, responsibility and respect for everyone.”

After winning her seat in the election, Ms Ali would have sat as an independent councillor but she chose not to take up her seat.

A notice of casual vacancy for Streatham St Leonard’s ward appeared on Lambeth Council’s website last Thursday (May 14).

The two by-elections must take place within 35 working days of the notices first being published on the council’s website.

Following the May 7 elections, the Green Party has become the largest political group in Lambeth, with the Labour Party suffering a major defeat and losing control of the council for the first time in two decades.

Despite being the largest political group in Lambeth, the Greens don’t hold a majority because 32 seats are needed. With Ms Ali not taking up her seat and Cllr Eaves resigning, there are currently 27 Green councillors in Lambeth, with Labour following closely behind with 26 councillors while the Lib Dems have eight.

Lambeth is one of several London boroughs that has no outright majority following the May 7 elections. Because there is no overall control, no single party can govern the borough alone.

As they are the largest party in the borough, the Greens will either need to form a coalition with another political party at the council or will need to garner votes from opposition councillors on a case-by-case basis when it comes to passing budgets or new policies.