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New Mayor and Deputy Cabinet Members announced

Image of Cllr Lambe the new Mayor of Southwark

The new Mayor of Southwark 2025-26 has been elected, and two new Deputy Cabinet Members have been appointed.

Councillor Sunny Lambe has been elected as the Worshipful the Mayor of Southwark for the municipal year 2025/26 at the Annual Meeting of the Council. The Deputy Mayor is Councillor Sabina Emmanuel.

Cllr Lambe has served as a Labour and Co-operative councillor for the South Bermondsey ward since May 2014. A passionate advocate for equality, diversity and social justice, Sunny brings decades of experience in public service, community empowerment, and business leadership to the mayoralty.

Since arriving in Southwark from Nigeria in 1986, Sunny has been a dedicated community leader and business management consultant. Over the past 30 years, he has led and supported a wide range of local and national initiatives and founded numerous grassroots organisations such as the Black Labour Movement UK, Peckham Supplementary School, Southwark Youth Enterprise Project, and the Black Business Club.

On accepting the role, Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Sunny Lambe said: “Many people go to the US in search of their American Dream. This is my British Dream equivalent when I left the shores of Nigeria with my Nigerian Green Passport in the summer of 1986. I never thought one day that I would become the first citizen of our great historical London Borough of Southwark. It is a great privilege, honour and an amazing grace to become the Mayor of Southwark. I’m immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to my attaining this great height; and most especially the good people of South Bermondsey who have been electing since 2014 otherwise this milestone would have been impossible to achieve. One Love, One People, One Southwark, United to Serving our diverse communities with a spirit of togetherness.”

The Leader of the Council also appointed two new Deputy Cabinet Members.

Cllr Margy Newens

Deputy Cabinet Member for a Cleaner Southwark

Cllr Newens will oversee new schemes to keep the borough clean. This will focus on new approaches to tackling graffiti, fly-tipping and general waste management in key areas of the borough.

Cllr Reginald Popoola

Deputy Cabinet Member for Landlord Services

Cllr Popoola is responsible for strengthening engagement with tenants and leaseholders, specifically building on the success of Repair Action Days.

Freedom of the London Borough of Southwark

The Council passed a resolution to confer the title of Honorary Freeperson on the following individuals:

Valerie Shawcross CBE

Baroness Caroline Pidgeon MBE

St John Ambulance

The Southwark Civic Awards 2025

The Southwark Civic Awards are the most prestigious the council can make, recognising and celebrating the exceptional contributions of a small number of dedicated citizens. Awards were given to the following people:

Nora Higgins

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey

Rotherhithe Community Kitchen/ Shining Light 4U

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey

Trees for Bermondsey

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey

Elizabeth Errington

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell

Royal British Legion East Dulwich Branch

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell

Christine Tan

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell

Lin Vong

Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell

Borough Food Cooperative