Labour picks Claire Holland to be new Lambeth council leader

Lawyer Claire Holland is set to become the next leader of Lambeth council after being picked by her Labour colleagues.

Her fellow Labour group councillors in the borough elected Cllr Holland to be their next leader, meaning she is likely to be voted into the town hall chief’s post at the next full council meeting on Wednesday June 2.

Representing Oval ward since 2014, Cllr Holland is currently serving as deputy leader for transport and environment and has previously been deputy cabinet member for children.

Cllr Holland has been a legal aid children’s lawyer for more than 20 years, fighting for justice for young people’s right to live free from abuse and for families to stay together safely.

She has lived in Lambeth since 1995, where she has raised her two sons and a former chairman of governors at Ashmole Primary School.

Cllr Holland said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been elected to lead Lambeth Labour and to represent our fantastic borough.

I’ve lived in Lambeth almost all of my adult life, raised my children here and been a school governor, community campaigner and local councillor.

“In the last year, despite the challenges of Covid-19, we have seen the best of our borough – incredible community solidarity and support for those in need. We now need to harness that, as an inclusive and open council working with everyone, to build a recovery that works for all.

“Under my leadership, Lambeth will be relentlessly focused on tackling poverty, inequality, poor and insecure housing and violence affecting young people and women and girls.

But I know that the actions we take today and over the coming months and years will shape what our borough looks like for generations to come and so it will have delivering climate justice at its heart.

“I’m excited to get to work on developing and delivering a transformational agenda together with our residents, community groups, businesses and everyone in Lambeth that will tackle the deep, structural inequities in our society and build a fairer borough built on social, climate and racial justice for all.”

Predecessor Jack Hopkins, who also represents Oval ward, stood down two weeks ago amid an investigation of inappropriate behaviour, which he has denied.