Young people across Lambeth have been left shocked as sour-faced Lib Dem councillors attacked exciting plans for Lambeth’s first-ever Youth Mayor.   The Youth Mayor will be elected by young people in schools and youth clubs across Lambeth on 15 November. 

Thirty three young people put themselves forward to become Youth Mayor, and young people across the borough are excitedly supporting their favourite candidates.  Youth Mayor hopefuls have posted their election pledges online as they compete for support.  The Youth Mayor will have a budget of £25,000 to spend on their own projects, and will be able to help decide how the extra £1.7m Labour’s investing in youth services will be spent.  The Lib Dems and Tories left Lambeth with the worst funded youth service in London when they were thrown out of power by voters last year.

Labour’s Steve Reed wrote the youth mayor proposals into Labour’s election manifesto.  He said: “We have to give young people more positive things to do so they’re not left to hang about on the streets.  We want to help them become responsible adults by letting them decide what kind of youth facilities they want to see.  I’m absolutely astonished that the Lib Dems, who left our youth services penniless and in tatters, are now trying to block the election of Lambeth’s first-ever Youth Mayor.  Yet again, Lambeth’s Lib Dems have shown they’re completely out of touch.”    

You can see the candidates for Lambeth's first-ever Youth Mayor at: www.lambeth.gov.uk/youthmayor4lambeth