onionbagblog

I can EXCLUSIVELY reveal (ooh, get you…) that the new @LambethLabour cabinet will be made up of:

Lib Peck, Lorna Campbell, Sally Prentice, Paul McGlone, Pete Robbins, Jim Dickson, Florence Nosegbe [hurrah!] and Rachel Heywood.

Having achieved a massive 43% of the vote in the local elections on Thursday, and boosting the administration’s seats from 39 to 44, it is no surprise that @cllrstevereed remains the Leader of Lambeth Council. Jackie Meldrum has kept her Deputy Leader role of the Labour group.

Jack the lad Hopkins has not only bagged the Oval seat, but also the role of Chief Whip. Stockwell’s Alex Bigham, another new recruit to the council, has been appointed as his Deputy.

The local Labour group held their first internal meeting since the election on Sunday afternoon. Candidates interested in taking up a cabinet post were asked to come forward and offer a speech. A ballot of the 44 Councillors led to the formation of the new cabinet. Deputy Cabinet Members and Committe Chairs will be elected at a group meeting on Thursday.

No portfolios have been assigned as yet, but these are expected to follow over the next couple of days. Mark Bennett decided not to put his name forward for a second term in cabinet.

New faces to the cabinet include Larkhall Councillor Pete Robbins, and Brixton Hill Councillor Florence Nosegbe. Both deserve this step up in responsibilities, having served their party, and constituents, incredibly well over the past four years.

What I find encouraging about the new cabinet is the 5:4 ratio of females to males. Candidates should be judged on their individual merits, but such a statement puts out a genuine message regarding the stuffy old image of local politics.

It is also refreshing to see youthful cabinet members, such as Councillor Robbins and Councillor Nosegbe, being given a chance to contribute to the running of our borough. I would be very surprised if Councillor Nosegbe isn’t given the Children and Young People portfolio, a patch in which she will certainly thrive within.

Cabinet meets for the first time on June 14th. By this date, the White Paper on the mutualisation of local politics will no doubt be up for debate, not to mention the urgent update needed for the location of the temporary ice rink on Streatham Common.

Congratulations to all the appointed cabinet members - much work to do…