How Green Party Took Lewisham Council From Labour: Lewisham 2026

Key Points:

• The Green Party has seized control of Lewisham Council, decisively ending 55 years of Labour dominance in the borough.
• Labour’s representation collapsed from 54 councillors down to just 14, with the Greens securing an outright majority of 40 seats.
• Liam Shrivastava, a former Labour councillor who defected to the Greens in 2025, has been elected as Lewisham’s new Mayor.
• The new administration has pledged to resist developers, increase the delivery of affordable housing, and implement more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).
• The council has already initiated a UK-first policy to review its cooperation with Home Office immigration raids.

Lewisham (South London News) 13 August 2026 — In an unprecedented political earthquake for South London, the Green Party has officially taken control of Lewisham Council, completely dismantling the Labour Party’s 55-year grip on power in the borough. Sweeping to victory in the local elections held on 7 May 2026, the Greens secured 40 out of a possible 54 council seats, leaving Labour with a vastly reduced presence of merely 14 councillors. Alongside this sweeping council majority, Green candidate Liam Shrivastava was elected as the directly elected Mayor of Lewisham, securing 40.4% (35,265 votes) of the popular vote to defeat Labour’s Amanda de Ryk, who took 34.8% (30,374 votes). The historic nature of the victory drew national attention, with Mothin Ali, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, appearing alongside Shrivastava to celebrate the outright majority.

What Led to Labour Losing Control After 55 Years?

For over half a century, the London Borough of Lewisham has operated as a steadfast Labour stronghold. The position of directly elected Mayor, established in 2002, had exclusively been held by Labour politicians, including Steve Bullock, Damien Egan, and most recently, Brenda Dacres.

However, a significant shift occurred when Dacres, who was the first black woman to serve as a directly elected mayor in the UK, stepped down from the role to take up a seat in the House of Lords in January 2026.

Her departure paved the way for a highly competitive race, which was the first mayoral election in the borough to be run under the first-past-the-post electoral system rather than the previously used supplementary vote.

As reported by Anna Loren of The Independent, the election yielded a “phenomenal result” for the Green Party. Shrivastava’s mayoral victory, matched with the election of 40 Green councillors—many of whom were first-time candidates not expecting to win—solidified a comprehensive mandate for change.

How Did Other Parties Perform in the Election?

While the primary battle was fought between the Greens and Labour, other parties also contested the race. According to official electoral data, Reform UK candidate Peter Newman secured third place with 8.4% of the vote (7,288 votes).

The Liberal Democrats, represented by Josh Matthews, received 7.3% (6,323 votes), while Conservative candidate Sylbourne Sydial obtained 5.3% (4,655 votes). Independent candidates and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) made up the remainder of the field. Following the result, a statement published by the Lewisham Liberal Democrats noted that they

“will work hard to hold this new administration to account, just as we did the unaccountable Labour Party council that came before”.

Why Did Liam Shrivastava Defect to the Green Party?

The new Mayor of Lewisham is a highly familiar face in the borough’s politics. Shrivastava originally began his political career as a Labour councillor, representing the New Cross Gate ward following his election in 2022. However, his relationship with Labour heavily fractured after a decade of party membership.

In June 2025, Shrivastava made the controversial decision to defect to the Green Party. Explaining his departure at the time, Shrivastava stated:

“[The Labour Party] I joined is unrecognisable from what it has become”.

As reported by Alex Burns of East London Lines, the defector heavily criticised his former party, marking a critical turning point in local politics that ultimately set the stage for his successful mayoral campaign a year later.

What Are the New Mayor’s Key Pledges for Lewisham?

Following his victory, Shrivastava formally confirmed his new cabinet on 20 May 2026, opting to appoint several newly elected councillors to key positions. Addressing the council chamber for the first time as Mayor, Shrivastava stated:

“We were elected on a mandate for change and hope for our communities and I am so excited about all of the councillors that have been elected and the Cabinet that we have put together to really drive forward our agenda”.

He also committed to cross-party cooperation, adding that he would work across the chamber and respect

“the democratic mandate of every elected councillor to ensure essential services were delivered to Lewisham residents”.

The Green agenda for Lewisham focuses heavily on environmental and housing reforms. Shrivastava has publicly vowed to stand up to private developers, demanding higher quotas of affordable housing.

Furthermore, the administration plans to aggressively tackle air quality and road safety by installing new cycle lanes and introducing more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) across the borough.

Who Makes Up the New Green Cabinet in Lewisham?

The new executive team reflects a distinct break from the previous administration, blending Shrivastava’s strategic vision with the fresh perspectives of first-time councillors.

According to Lewisham Council’s official records, the Mayor has appointed Councillor Rudi Schmidt as Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Economic Development, tasking him with managing the council budget, local economic development, and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Additionally, Councillor Ade Adewunmi has taken on the portfolio for Strategy, Performance and Digital Transformation, overseeing IT, customer services, and equalities.

Meanwhile, Councillor Rotimi Skyers is responsible for Children, SEND, Youth Empowerment and Culture, managing crucial services such as school performance, admissions, and early years education.

How Will the Council Approach Immigration Enforcement Raids?

Wasting no time in implementing their progressive agenda, the newly formed Green council has already initiated significant policy shifts. In a move described as a UK first, the local authority passed a motion to conduct a “comprehensive review” of its assistance with Home Office immigration enforcement raids.

This policy aims to restrict council resources from being used to facilitate national deportation operations, signalling a strong stance on migrant rights and community protection within the borough.

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Background of the Political Shift in Lewisham

The political realignment in Lewisham did not happen in a vacuum. It represents a broader national trend where the Green Party has made significant inroads into traditionally Labour-held urban areas.

Shrivastava’s election marks the first time the Green Party has secured a directly elected mayoral seat in its history, an achievement shared simultaneously with Zoë Garbett’s victory in the Hackney mayoral election during the same electoral cycle.

This shift was largely fuelled by disillusionment with the national Labour Party’s centrist drift, coupled with highly localised grievances regarding housing developments, traffic management, and environmental concerns.

Furthermore, the Electoral Reform Society highlighted that the shift from the supplementary vote to the first-past-the-post system profoundly impacted electoral dynamics, a change they previously criticised as lowering the bar for politicians.

Prediction: How Will This Green Administration Affect Lewisham Residents?

For the residents of Lewisham, this dramatic change in leadership is likely to manifest in highly visible shifts to the borough’s infrastructure and community services.

The local audience can expect an accelerated rollout of active travel measures, including the rapid deployment of cycle lanes and the contentious expansion of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).

While these measures are predicted to significantly reduce local carbon emissions and improve air quality, they may initially provoke friction among motorists and local businesses adapting to new traffic flows.

Furthermore, residents seeking housing will likely witness a much stricter approach toward private property developers. The Green administration’s pledge to prioritise affordable housing could slow down luxury developments, potentially altering the borough’s gentrification trajectory and providing more accessible options for lower-income families.

Finally, vulnerable and minority communities may experience a more protective local government, as evidenced by the council’s immediate pushback against Home Office immigration raids. Ultimately, Lewisham is poised to serve as a high-profile testing ground for municipal Green governance in the UK.