Here is our guide to everything you need to know about the upcoming mayoral and council elections in the borough of Lewisham on Thursday 7 May…
Where is Lewisham?
The London Borough of Lewisham is in south east London, forming part of Inner London.
It is located south of the River Thames, bordered by the boroughs of Southwark, Greenwich, and Bromley.
Who is being elected?
Lewisham is divided into 54 wards, each represented by councillors.
Voters in May 2026 will elect a new mayor as well as councillors in all of those wards.
Candidates from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Reform and independents are standing across the borough.
What happened in the last election?
In 2022, the Labour Party won all 54 council seats in every single ward, underlining the party’s strong grip on the borough.
Damien Egan (Labour) was re-elected as mayor with just over 58% of the vote, but stepped down in January 2024 prior to being elected as a member of parliament the following month and was succeeded by Brenda Dacres.
Labour secured 55% of the vote in 2022, while the Green Party finished second with 20%
Who is standing in 2026?
Eight candidates are standing in the May 2026 Mayoral election:
- Jay Coward – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Kayode Damali – Independent
- Amanda De Ryk – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Josh Matthews – Liberal Democrats
- Roger Mighton – Independent
- Peter Newman – Reform UK
- Liam Shrivastava – Green Party
- Sylbourne Sydial – Conservative Party
What are the candidates saying?
Councillor Amanda De Ryk is Labour’s mayoral candidate following the announcement Dacres would step down after two years in the role.
De Ryk said: “My ambition is clear: A Lewisham where every child gets a fair start, where every resident can live in a decent home, and where no one’s health or chances in life are limited by where they live.
“It’s time to come together, fight for every vote, and deliver for the people of Lewisham.”
The Green Party’s mayoral candidate Liam Shrivastava is campaigning to lower the cost of living, protect nature and invest in the services that local communities rely on.
Shrivastava has also voiced that he will fight proposed council cuts.
Jay Coward, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition’s candidate, said: “We need no cuts – and to mobilise workers and young people to campaign for the funding our services need.”
Key local issues
Lewisham faces several ongoing challenges.
One of those the housing crisis, with major damp and mould issues reported across the borough.
Lewisham is among the top ten most dangerous boroughs in London and crime rates are marked as 11% above the capital’s average.
In 2026, 92 crimes per 1,000 people were reported.
There are also concerns about gentrification, with residents fearing it may have had an effect on increasing costs and is contributing to displacement.
Predictions
Labour remains the dominant political force in Lewisham following on from its clean sweep in 2022 and is widely expected to remain competitive in the 2026 mayoral race.
However, the Green Party’s growing vote share suggests it could potentially continue to strengthen its position as the main challenger.
Interesting facts about Lewisham
Lewisham has a population of more than 300,000 people and is one of London’s most diverse boroughs, with a significant proportion of residents from ethnic minorities.
Areas such as Deptford and New Cross are known for their strong arts, music and student communities, while the borough has a long history of activism including the Battle of Lewisham, a landmark anti-racism demonstration.
Lewisham is home to Goldsmiths, University of London, whose alumni include and Blur duo Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon
Kate Bush and Stormzy are others with strong musical connections to the borough.
Elections will be held in Lewisham on Thursday 7 May 2026 for the Mayor of Lewisham and 54 ward councillors.
Feature image: GeoMancer448/CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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