Second by-election set for Streatham Common and Vale as another Lambeth Labour Councillor resigns in the ward

You’ve got to feel for the residents of Streatham Common and Vale ward.

A by-election?

Not another one, etc…

But yep, less than a month after the good residents of the ward rushed to find a replacement for ex-Cllr Tom Rutland whilst he’s on a South Coast jolly, another Lambeth Labour Councillor has resigned their seat.

This time it’s the turn of Cllr Henna Shah [right].

The by-election for Streatham Common and Vale ward will take place on 4th July – the same day as the General Election.

You can find a full list of the candidates over here.

The result from the Streatham Common and Vale by-election at the start of the month was:

Sarah Cole (Lab) 2,269

Promise Phillips (Local Cons) 884

Duncan Eastoe (Green) 784

Nicolas Davidson (LD) 596.

The Labour vote was down 9.1% compared to the 2022 election for the ward.

Like Rutland, Shah was only elected to the Council two years ago; unlike Rutland, she’s not jumping ship for the Westminster gravy train.

There’s been no explanation from the usually bullish Lambeth Labour why another of its Councillors has resigned, only two years into a four year term.

We would ask them about this. But the Lambeth Labour X account has been airbrushed out of history, aka burying the bodies. They tend not to respond to any emails from Brixton Buzz.

Bunker mentality? Fancy that.

Shah is well connected in Westminster circles. She is the political adviser to Keir Starmer’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Pat McFadden. Her partner is Matthew Pound, a senior advisor to the party’s General Secretary, David Evans.

The smart money is on Shah landing a SpAds job at No.10 or No.11 in the new Labour government. Resigning now allows the due democratic process to take place for a local election to be held on the same day as the General Election.

It’s never a good look when a Councillor resigns and a standalone by-election is needed. The average cost of these to the public purse is around £5,000. There’s usually a piss poor turn out as well, leading to potential jeopardy for Lambeth Labour.

The Labour Group wanted this by-election out of the way quickly. If Cllr Marianna Masters does win a Westminster seat in St Neot’s (still only a 50-50 chance according to the polls) then they face a much bigger challenge in Streatham Wells. A by-election would become an LTN referendum.

You have to applaud the swift response of Shah in stepping down from the Council. Chancers like Cllr Jim Dickson in Herne Hill ward haven’t got the balls to quit their Lambeth seat whilst they chase their Westminster wet dreams.

Lucky Jim has taken a six week paid sabbatical from his Lambeth Cabinet responsibilities to go door knocking in Dartford.

Heads you win, tails you win, Jimbo.

Meanwhile Jim’s residents back in Herne Hill are having a few local difficulties with Brockwell Park right now.

#WheresJim, etc.

You have to wonder why all of a sudden the Lambeth Labour lot want out. We suspect it’s nothing to do with the crapness of the Council at a local level. Lambeth is a one party borough. They look after their own, if not the residents.

Nope, it may just have something to do with the small fact of a national Labour landslide is looking increasingly likely. Seats such as Dartford – which Lucky Jim would previously only have driven through – now lead him and his like to have a “passion” for the area.

It’s electoral tourism. It’s disingenuous to the voters in Lambeth who first put their trust in this lot two years ago. It’s taking the piss out of the local party and local residents where they have found an overnight love affair for.

Eyes down for Lambeth Labour Election Bingo on 4th July.