The Green Party's candidate for the 2026 Lewisham mayoral election has launched a direct challenge to the borough's political establishment, pledging to confront property developers and prioritise residents' needs on housing, transport, and the environment.
From Labour Defector to Green Standard-Bearer
Liam Shrivastava, who serves as a councillor for New Cross Gate and is now the Leader of the Opposition on Lewisham Council, was officially announced as the Green mayoral candidate earlier this month. His political journey took a significant turn in July 2025 when he defected from the Labour Party after a decade of membership, stating the party he originally joined had become "unrecognisable".
He was joined in his move by fellow councillor Hau-Yu Tam in March 2025, making them the council's sole opposition members. Shrivastava has accused the current Labour administration of becoming "incredibly complacent and comfortable", creating a "leadership vacuum" and leaving the borough "in the lurch".
A Pledge to Fight for Affordable Homes and Safer Streets
A central pillar of Shrivastava's campaign is a tougher stance on housing development. He strongly criticised the council's recent approval of the Lewisham Shopping Centre redevelopment, which will provide only 98 social rent homes out of a total of 1,744 new properties.
"The borough has over 10,600 households on the housing waiting list," Shrivastava told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He pointed out that the council's own Local Plan targets 50% affordable housing on major sites, a figure starkly contrasted by the less than 6% social housing in this approved scheme.
He vowed that a Green administration would negotiate harder with developers from the pre-application stage and be prepared to face legal challenges to secure more affordable homes, stating they "wouldn't be afraid to demand for more".
Alongside housing, the candidate has committed to improving road safety and air quality. His plans include expanding cycle lanes, reducing car dependency, and implementing low traffic neighbourhoods to create a healthier, safer borough.
Political Context and Party Momentum
The mayoral race is set for May 2026, and Lewisham Labour has yet to announce its candidate. The current Labour Mayor, Brenda Dacres, who made history as the borough's first directly elected Black woman mayor in 2024, recently accepted a nomination to the House of Lords and is understood not to be seeking re-election.
Shrivastava cited the party's growth, noting that local membership has increased fivefold in recent months to almost 2,500 people, making it the second-largest Green Party in London. This surge aligns with a national boost following Zack Polanski's election as Green Party Leader in September 2025, which saw membership surpass 100,000.
In response to Shrivastava's criticisms, a Lewisham Labour spokesperson defended their record, highlighting achievements in children's social care, bringing youth services in-house, and reducing housing repair waiting lists from over 17,000 to under 5,000. They also questioned Shrivastava's consistency, noting he was elected as a Labour councillor in 2022 but is now seeking re-election in a different ward, Crofton Park, while running for Mayor.
Shrivastava countered, stating he left Labour over its stance on Gaza and local governance issues, and affirmed his continued service to New Cross Gate residents. "I believe the potential in Lewisham is absolutely huge for the Green Party," he said, eyeing both multiple council seats and the mayoralty.
