Key Points
- Primary Honouree: Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council since 2021, awarded OBE for political and public service.
- Honours Publication: List published by the Government on Monday, 29 December 2025, granted by the King.
- Career Milestones: Elected Oval ward councillor 2014; Chair of London Councils since 2023; led Covid-19 recovery, £30m cost-of-living programme, first London council to declare climate emergency, affordable housing reset delivering hundreds of homes.
- Youth Focus: 20+ years as legal aid children’s lawyer; campaigned for sports access; responded to Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; pursuing UNICEF Child Friendly Community status; care experience as protected characteristic.
- Cllr Holland Quote: “I am extremely honoured to be awarded an OBE from His Majesty the King… I will use this OBE as motivation to continue working hard.”
- London Councils Role: Ensured cross-party working; unanimous support for Mayor-councils decision-making model; advocated devolution, fair funding, London Growth Plan.
- Other Lambeth Honourees: MBE for Edison David (Granton Primary Headteacher, education); British Empire Medals for Robin Langton-Dodds (disadvantaged youth), Ruth Flynn (La Retraite sixth form director, further education), Neil Salt (Conservative constituency officer, political service).
Lambeth Council Leader Cllr Claire Holland Receives OBE in King’s New Year’s Honours List
Lambeth Council Leader Councillor Claire Holland has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2026 New Year’s Honours List, recognising her decade of political service, youth advocacy, and leadership through crises.
The honours, published by the Government on Monday, 29 December 2025 and granted by the King, celebrate merit, service, and bravery across society. Cllr Holland, Leader since 2021 and Chair of London Councils since 2023, led Lambeth’s Covid recovery and pioneered initiatives on climate and housing.
The official Lambeth Council statement on love.lambeth.gov.uk details her contributions, noting others in the borough also honoured for education and youth work. Cllr Holland becomes a prominent London figure in the list.
Who Is Cllr Claire Holland and Why the OBE?
Councillor Claire Holland, first elected for Oval ward in 2014, earns the OBE for political and public service.
The Lambeth statement outlines: “Cllr Holland has been the leader of Lambeth Council since 2021 and the chair of London Councils, the representative body for local authorities in the capital, since 2023.” Her award reflects steering Lambeth through the Covid-19 pandemic.
What Key Achievements Led Lambeth’s Climate Emergency Declaration?
Lambeth became the first London council to declare a climate emergency under Cllr Holland’s leadership.
Per the council release: “She led the council out of the Covid-19 pandemic, delivered a £30 million cost of living programme to put money back in residents’ pockets, made Lambeth the first council in London to declare a climate emergency and reset Lambeth’s approach to affordable housing resulting in hundreds of new genuinely affordable homes being in delivery.”
This reset has delivered hundreds of affordable homes, addressing borough pressures.
How Has Cllr Holland Advocated for Young People?
Her 20+ years as a legal aid children’s lawyer shaped youth-focused policies.
The statement highlights: “Her commitment to supporting young people has been a defining feature of her career… first becoming involved in local politics to improve young people’s access to sports.” She led responses to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, acted on recommendations, pursued UNICEF Child Friendly Community status, and made care experience a protected characteristic.
Cllr Holland stated: “I first got involved in my local community to help turn around my local school into what became a thriving local primary school that provides amazing opportunities for local working class kids. I became a local campaigner and then councillor because I saw those same children denied access to sports facilities, and I have always fought for children’s rights and opportunities.”
What Did Cllr Holland Say About Her OBE Award?
Cllr Holland expressed honour and resolve in her full response.
As quoted in the Lambeth statement: “I am extremely honoured to be awarded an OBE from His Majesty the King. It is a very humbling and proud moment to be recognised in this way and I am hugely grateful to everyone who has worked with me and supported me throughout my time working in the community and on the council.”
She continued: “I am equally proud to have been elected to represent Lambeth’s communities, to have fought for children’s rights and to have led council’s across London through what has been a challenging time for local government, but one in which we have forged a new partnership between councils, the Mayor and the government.”
Finally: “I will use this OBE as motivation to continue working hard on the front line of service delivery, both in Lambeth and across London. I’m committed to providing services to those in the community who most need our support, building a better future for our young people and creating an environment where all Londoners can achieve their ambitions.”
What Role Has She Played at London Councils?
As Chair since 2023, Cllr Holland fostered cross-party collaboration.
The release notes: “As the chair of London Councils, Cllr Holland has ensured effective cross-party working, working collaboratively to secure unanimous support among the 32 boroughs for a new model of joint decision-making between the Mayor and councils.”
She advocated devolution changes, fair funding, and partnered on the London Growth Plan.
How Did She Secure Unanimous Borough Support?
Her leadership yielded 32-borough consensus on Mayor-council dynamics.
Who Else from Lambeth Received New Year’s Honours?
Four others from Lambeth feature prominently.
The statement lists: “An MBE for Edison David, Executive Headteacher at Granton Primary School, for services to education.” British Empire Medals went to Robin Langton-Dodds for services to disadvantaged young people in Lambeth; Ruth Flynn, director of sixth form at La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School, Clapham Park, for services to further education; and Neil Salt, constituency officer for Streatham and Croydon North, Lambeth and Southwark Conservative Federation, for political service.
When Was the Honours List Published?
The list appeared on Monday, 29 December 2025.
Lambeth’s announcement aligns with national timing: “The honours list, published by the Government on Monday 29, December is granted by the King to deserving people from all walks of life, in public recognition of their merit, service or bravery.” It also honoured Lambeth figures in education, youth, and politics.
Why Does the OBE Recognise Her Covid Leadership?
Cllr Holland guided Lambeth’s pandemic exit and £30m resident support.
This programme “put money back in residents’ pockets,” per the statement, amid national strains.
What Is Lambeth’s Path to Child Friendly Status?
Pursuing UNICEF designation builds on inquiry responses.
Making care experience protected advances equity, as detailed.
How Does This Fit Broader Lambeth Achievements?
The honours spotlight council progress on housing, climate, and youth.
Hundreds of affordable homes result from her reset, sustaining delivery.
