Lewisham Labour choose Amanda De Ryk as candidate for Mayor

Image courtesy Lewisham Labour / Instagram

Lewisham Labour will see Amanda Re Ryk standing to be the borough’s Mayor at elections this year.

The news follows another candidate Will Cooper dropping out of the race at the end of last week for health reasons.

Cllr Amanda De Ryk (Blackheath) is currently Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance and will replace Cllr Brenda Dacres. She’s been leader since 2024 and been nominated by Labour for a peerage.

Labour have dominated Lewisham for many years though in the recent past have seen defections of sitting councillors to the Green party.

Labour would be expected to win in Lewisham despite very poor polling numbers nationally and a string of by-election defeats across the capital since the party won power at Westminster. However with the party’s numbers falling so quickly both nationally and in London (where it is higher than across the country but still vastly down of levels seen at the last local elctions) it could make many seats a close call.

Local elections across London will be held on 7 May 2026.