Mayor of Lambeth 2019/20

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Was grateful to Kia Oval for hosting my Mayoral fundraising dinner to support Migration Museum UK and Lambeth Refugees Welcome. We have raised thousands of pounds for two brilliant charities. Below is what I said in my short speech:

Good evening everybody.

Thank you for coming tonight – I appreciate very much that so many colleagues, friends and representatives of organisations that mean so much to me and to Lambeth are here to celebrate the past civic year.

It has been a year of contrasts.
We have had achievements which have shown the very best of Lambeth.

There are far too many to mention, but I want to highlight the Country Show, which goes from strength to strength.

I’m looking forward to this year’s Show which I’ll be going to and I won’t be under the same strict instructions to be well-behaved!

The borough has seen its fair share of success in music and sport.
Who can forget the incredible Khadijah Mellah’s victory at Goodwood in the summer? What an absolutely superb achievement that was – I congratulate Khadijah and wish her luck for the next race.

Of course, I didn’t lay a bet myself, but I am willing to wager we’ll be seeing a lot more of Khadijah in the future, supported by all of us, but especially the amazing people at the Ebony Horse Club.

In the world of music, we saw Streatham-boy Dave win a BRIT award for best album of the year.

Dave is a great role model for the borough: he is passionate, he has worked hard and let his talent shine.

Dave gave Streatham and south London a shout-out at the BRITS, so it’s only right we give him a shout-out back from Lambeth.
Well done Dave.

Throughout my time as Mayor, I have visited so many community events that are not so well known or famous or as big as the Country Show, but nevertheless, showcase the talent, the spirit and the best of Lambeth.
This is especially true of the work of small charities or groups, such as the one I visited yesterday.

I was lucky enough to meet some local residents from the Vauxhall Gardens Estate and users of the Lambeth Day Centre.

They are using art to combat loneliness and to build friendships. I was genuinely moved by their creations, but also the genuine links that their work is inspiring and forging.

It’s that sort of work and that sort of friendship that makes this borough such a life-fulfilling place to be.

And, at times, we have needed that.
There have been less good times and days that have challenged us. Just a few weeks ago, we witnessed terror in our borough.

And, some people in this room have had to deal with heart-breaking loss and pain.

Others here this evening are battling a system that sometimes makes life hard.

But all those adversities bring out the best in Lambeth.

We see communities pulling together to show those who seek to divide us that they will never win.

And people pull together to help those in need in our borough like nowhere else I have ever known – and as you know, I am well-travelled!
That sense of coming together and helping neighbours in need are the values of the two charities I chose to support when I had the honour of being elected as Mayor last year.

And these two brilliant organisations are why we are all here tonight: we are here to raise money to help people help others.

I deliberately chose charities that are supporting people that have been through, or are going through similar experiences to my own.

I wanted to highlight the contribution of migrant communities to Lambeth and emphasise what an important role they play in what makes Lambeth great.

Many of you will know the Migration Museum. If you don’t you should and you’re about to.

The Museum does incredible work promoting and educating people about the benefits of migration. Not just in terms of the economic boost to UK PLC, but also the richness of cultures and the diversity in thought, ideas and art which make this country so wonderful.

We should be proud to be a borough of such rich diversity. Things aren’t perfect, but one of the joys of Lambeth, is the ability to walk down any of our streets and hear so many different languages. We get along and we get along well.

Lambeth is the Windrush borough after all. We have always opened our hearts and our doors for those who have come here to work, to settle and to put down roots. I hope we continue to do so.

As well as the Migration Museum, I also chose Lambeth Refugee Welcome as a supported charity.

LRW is a small organisation, made up of volunteers who provide much-needed advice and help for those fleeing persecution elsewhere, but who need support to make a home here.

That sort of work is crucial, now more than ever – they provide help to buy furniture, or fill in long and complicated forms to access benefits or payments. Such form-filling is difficult for anyone, but imagine trying to do it if English is your third or fourth language, or if you have little English at all.

That is what Lambeth Refugee Welcome do – and that work needs your support.

Two organisations who make such a difference.

In a borough where difference is valued and cherished.

I want us all to celebrate that difference and help keep that work going.
Dig deep tonight, enjoy your meal, catch-up with friends but most importantly of all, remember why we are here and why organisations like the Migration Museum and Lambeth Refugee Welcome need to be here.
Without your support, they might not be.

So, show the Best of Lambeth again, tonight.

Thank you.

The programme was set up by in partnership with (Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents and Tenants Association) and is held at on Vauxhall walk.

Wonderful visit to the Marcus Lipton Community Centre with Helen Hayes MP, Cllr Mo Seedat , Cllr Scarlet O’hara, Cllr Emma Nye and many members of our local communities.

Below is what I said in my short speech:


Thank you very much for the invitation to say a few words today at this important event.

The Marcus Lipton Community Centre is deeply important to the borough of Lambeth and to the community it serves.

This place is special.

It is a place that means so much to the community – and rightly so, because it supports and nurtures the young people who are the future of Lambeth.
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There is huge potential in the community here – and the centre has played a pivotal role in helping younger people meet that potential and become successful.

It is a place that focuses on the good in people.
But is a place of remembrance too.
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We remember and celebrate the life of Glendon Spence.

Glendon was a young man with a bright future ahead of him.

He hoped to be a mechanic – and was working towards that goal.

He wanted to make a difference and his family were deeply proud of his achievements.

That pride lives on and will always do so.
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We remember too the lives of Jerrell Elie and Dwayne Simpson.
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Jerrell was passionate about sport and wanted a career helping others, aspiring to be a physiotherapist. He was a young man with a positive future and a good heart, who meant so much to those who loved him.

Dwayne was a young man whose light shone bright and whose passing was grieved by so many, including those of us gathered here today.

Young lives, so much potential, loved by family and friends.

Glendon, Jerrell and Dwayne are deeply mourned.
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As Mayor of Lambeth, I feel great sadness at their passing.

But I also feel hope.

Hope – that despite the sadness and the tragedies, this community remains strong.

Strong in our conviction that violence will never win.

Strong in our belief that this community remains cohesive and united.

Strong in our resolve to make sure that the Marcus Lipton Centre remains at the very heart of this community.

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I am deeply proud to be here today, remembering and celebrating the lives of Glendon, Jerrell and Dwayne.

In doing so, we celebrate the lives of all those lost or damaged because of needless violence.

We will never give in and we will never give up in our work to end this scourge on our community.
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I am also deeply proud of the work that has happened and will continue to happen at this centre and in this community.

Everyone here today is proud. And rightly so.
We have suffered much. We have great sadness in our hearts.

But we have hope and strength.

Today’s event is a beacon of that hope. We remain united and we stand by our purpose.

I wish everyone here today well and I thank every single person involved in working at the Marcus Lipton centre and who has organised today’s important event, or is performing or attending today.

May we remember with pride and go forward with hope.

Thank you.

Was very pleased to host Kurdistan Region High Rep with members of Kurdistan Parliament, Mr. Luqman Hamad Haji the Chairman of Municipalities, Transportation & Tourism Committee & Mr. Mam Burhan Qanii member of Culture & Civil Society Committee of at Lambeth Town Hall.

There is so much that we all can learn from each other. Lambeth council officials briefed the delegation on Lambeth council operates, relationship between local and national government in the UK and local authorities in Region can learn from the expertise of council.