Brixton Buzz

Liberal Democrat Cllr Judy Best was unanimously elected Deputy Mayor at Wednesday night’s Annual Meeting, marking the first time in 20 years that the mayoralty will rotate between political groups – a sign of the new power-sharing era at Lambeth Town Hall.

Best, who represents Streatham Wells, returns to the role after a 12-year absence from the council. Colleague Cllr Kita Ogden described her as being “at the heart of the Streatham and Lambeth community for getting on 30 years.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Judy Best was unanimously elected Deputy Mayor at Wednesday night’s Annual Meeting, marking the first time in 20 years that the mayoralty will rotate between political groups – a sign of the new power-sharing era at Lambeth Town Hall.

Best, who represents Streatham Wells, returns to the role after a 12-year absence from the council. Colleague Cllr Kita Ogden described her as being “at the heart of the Streatham and Lambeth community for getting on 30 years.”

The Green Party councillor for Loughborough Junction and Herne Hill has just been elected the new Mayor of Lambeth at the first Full Council Meeting, following historic local election results that saw Labour slip from power for the first time in two decades.

Cllr Valentine thanked all present in the chamber in his opening words, and took great pain to say that as the first Green Mayor and as first citizen of the borough, he represents and will represent everyone, regardless of political affiliation; Green, Labour, Lib Dem alike.

Liberal Democrat candidate Alex Davies has launched his campaign for the forthcoming St Leonard’s by-election with calls for Lambeth Council to move polling stations out of schools, arguing that election-day closures are causing unnecessary disruption to pupils, parents and teachers.

Davies said the party had launched a ‘Save Our School Day’ campaign calling on Lambeth Council to find alternative polling venues, with residents and local businesses already displaying posters backing the initiative.

Founded in Brixton’s Market Row back in 2008, Franco Manca’s popularity saw it eventually being swallowed up by private equity and growing into a nationwide chain of 70 pizza restaurants.

Last month, the pizza chain’s current owners, Toridoll Holdings corporation of Japan, decided that the Brixton branch wasn’t making enough money, so it was scheduled for closure at the end of May 2026.

However, anyone looking to grab a farewell pizza will be disappointed, as their Atlantic Road premises were already locked up by last weekend.

Cllr Matthew Bryant has been elected leader of Lambeth’s Liberal Democrat group, stepping up from deputy leader after the party doubled its representation from four to eight seats on 7th May.

Bryant replaces Donna Harris, who stood down at the recent elections for health reasons after four years as group leader. He represents Streatham Hill West and Thornton and previously led on finance and the budget.

Cllr Tam Langley (Stockwell East) joins as deputy leader, and Cllr Simon Cordon (Clapham Common and Abbeville) as whip.

Lambeth Greens have paid tribute to Cllr Joanna Eaves, who has resigned from her Clapham Park seat due to ill health just days after becoming the ward’s first ever Green councillor on 7th May.

Eaves was a well-known community campaigner in the ward, having founded a local gardening group and led campaigns to save the last local shop from closure and to protect street trees.

She said:

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

Lambeth Greens have paid tribute to Cllr Joanna Eaves, who has resigned from her Clapham Park seat due to ill health just days after becoming the ward’s first ever Green councillor on 7th May.

Eaves was a well-known community campaigner in the ward, having founded a local gardening group and led campaigns to save the last local shop from closure and to protect street trees.

She said:

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

This astonishingly long train carrying new cars was seen travelling east through Brixton last week.

Pulled by just one locomotive, the goods train took over one and a half minutes to rumble past our camera.

In case you wondered why there’s so few colours to be seen in that long trainload, this handy website and graphic (below) shows how dull car colours have become:

Lambeth Green Party members gather online this evening for a hustings with eleven candidates seeking the party’s nomination for the expected Streatham St Leonard’s by-election.

The seat became vacant after Saiqa Ali, who was suspended by the party during the campaign, declined to take her seat. A win would take the Greens to 29 on the 63-seat council, strengthening newly elected leader Martin Abram’s position as he seeks to form an administration.

The candidates are:

Anidi, Emmanuel – smart meter engineer and COVID volunteer with British Gas