UK Elects Brenda Dacres As Mayor.

By Caroline Ameh

Ms. Brenda Dacres has shattered glass ceilings by becoming one of the few black women to secure a directly-elected mayoral role in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Dacres clinched victory with an impressive count of 21,575 votes, capturing 51.5 percent of the total votes cast in yesterday’s election, which boasted a turnout of 20.74 percent.

The by-election was prompted by the resignation of the previous mayor, Damien Egan, who stepped down to pursue a parliamentary seat in Bristol. Green Party candidate Michael Herron trailed behind Dacres, securing second place with 6,835 votes.

Expressing her aspirations for the borough, Dacres emphasized the pressing need for housing reform, including the construction of new homes and the improvement of existing housing conditions. She articulated her hope that her election would serve as a beacon of inspiration for young people, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Despite Lewisham’s historical allegiance to the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats trailed behind in third place with 4,896 votes, followed by the Conservatives with 3,784 votes.

In her poignant acceptance speech, delivered in the early hours of Friday morning to a predominantly Labour audience, Dacres reflected on her parents’ journey to the UK as part of the Windrush generation. She expressed profound gratitude for their sacrifices and underscored the significance of her milestone achievement as the daughter of immigrants.

Dacres aims to leverage her position to become a role model and source of inspiration for the diverse youth population of Lewisham, where 25 percent hail from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Despite the victory, concerns linger over the low voter turnout, typical of standalone by-elections. Critics have pointed to the significant cost of the election, estimated at £635,000, raising questions about the allocation of council taxpayers’ money.