Brixton Buzz

Councillor Donna Harris, Lambeth’s Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, announces she will stand down in May – and says the borough’s ‘one-party state’ is finally starting to crack

In a personal statement shared with Brixton Buzz, the Streatham Hill West & Thornton councillor reflects on four years holding Labour to account at the Town Hall, the residents’ cases that shaped her politics, and why – despite stepping back for health reasons – she believes a more balanced Lambeth is within reach.

Donna Harris writes:

Saiqa Ali, the Green candidate for Streatham St Leonard’s, and Sabine Mairey (pictured), the Green candidate for Clapham Town, were arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on Thursday morning, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

According to the report, both candidates were detained on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred under Section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 and taken into custody for questioning.

Brixton Buzz has not independently verified the arrests with the Met, which has been approached for comment.

The month of May sees the start of the Lambeth Libraries Readers and Writers Festival where they delight in contemporary literature while celebrating some great classics.

It’s a month of all things literary with discussions, talks and participatory events – join us for a bumper month of good writing.

Elections: Thursday 7 May

Lambeth goes to the polls on Thursday 7 May. A number of our libraries will be closed as they act as polling stations:

Closed: South Lambeth, Waterloo, Minet, and Clapham Libraries.

Partially Closed: Brixton Library.

A new national campaign has gone live with the full list of council candidates who have committed, if elected, to push their councils to divest pension funds from companies complicit in Israel’s violations of international law.

A new national campaign has gone live with the full list of council candidates who have committed, if elected, to push their councils to divest pension funds from companies complicit in Israel’s violations of international law.

The Green Party leader singled out Steve Reed, who ran Lambeth Council from 2006 to 2012 and is now MP for Streatham and Croydon North and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in a stinging indictment of a Labour Party that he said represented “corporations and big business” over communities.

The Green Party leader singled out Steve Reed, who ran Lambeth Council from 2006 to 2012 and is now MP for Streatham and Croydon North and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in a stinging indictment of a Labour Party that he said represented “corporations and big business” over communities.

In a press release sent to Brixton Buzz, Labour has called on the Green Party to sack five candidates standing in local elections across the country, accusing them of making “racist, antisemitic” statements and peddling “dangerous conspiracy theories” on social media.

The national communication (attached below) coincided with an article in The Spectator identifying Saiqa Ali, the Green candidate in Streatham St Leonard’s – the party’s strongest ward in Lambeth, where all three sitting councillors are currently Green – as having posted material on her Instagram account including:

Youthsayers will be 10 years old this month and they’re hosting a big event at The Portico Gallery in West Norwood on Saturday, April 18th 2026.

They told Brixton Buzz more about the event:

Three of our amazing patrons are performing . UK sax legend Courtney Pine, international jazz star Zoe Rahman and acclaimed actress ,Abakush lead singer and Brixton resident, Angela Wynter.

Plus Youthsayers founders Soothsayers, and former Fela Kuti and UK based afrobeat godfather Dele Sosimi.

While greedy, despicable billionaires continue to stuff their fat wallets and landlords keep pushing up the rent, millions of people are struggling to make ends meet every week.

The debt advice kiosk in Streatham Library is here to help, offering free expert advice via video for individuals with financial difficulties or money worries.

Each kiosk is designed as a soundproof booth, ensuring conversations remain private and confidential.

This is a walk-in service, so no appointment is required.

Upcoming dates and times:

Streatham Library