WE DID IT! I am delighted that Labour took back control of Southampton City Council at the local elections in May 2022 and I can’t wait to get to work as your new Leader.
We are eager and ready to start delivering for all our communities and I personally want to say a huge thank you for everyone’s support.
Over the last 12 months, we refocused our campaign and set out a new vision for Southampton. We spoke to over 30,000 voters and listened to their concerns.
I grew up believing the world of art and culture wasn’t for people like me.
It was only after taking on the Culture portfolio, in my former role as Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture at Southampton City Council, that I realised I had grown up with so much culture, but had just not defined it as such. I want to ensure that everyone’s culture is valued, celebrated and brings people together.
When I was the Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture, my portfolio included everything from homelessness, council and social housing, to the private rented sector in Southampton.
Homes are more than bricks and mortar. Homes are about the people that live in them, their quality of life, and the sense of community and stability that high quality housing creates. Whether you rent or own, all homes need to be safe, secure, and affordable to live in.
Read my Labour List piece on Biden’s inauguration here.
Click here to read my Labour List piece on how Labour councils are setting an example for government with their record on housing.