Momentum are calling for the Lewisham Mayor position to be abolished, after Lewisham Labour members voted to select Damian Egan over their candidate Paul Bell in last year’s selection.

Momentum are calling for the Lewisham Mayor position to be abolished, after Lewisham Labour members voted to select Damian Egan over their candidate Paul Bell in last year’s selection.

The policy would remove the ability of Labour members to choose the Party’s candidate for leader of their local authority, effectively the role of the Mayor in Lewisham.

The proposal’s inclusion in Lewisham Momentum’s draft manifesto for May’s local elections will surprise those who see Momentum as standing for greater democracy in the Party. The organisation has previously supported calls for local Labour party members to elect their local authority leaders, rather than councillors.

Damian Egan was selected as Labour’s candidate for Lewisham Mayor in September, defeating the Momentum-backed Paul Bell by 58% to 37%. Egan, a councillor who was once homeless and grew up in council housing, stood on a pro-EU platform. Paul Bell, also a councillor, was backed by Momentum and Unite, but not by his employer Unison, which supported Egan.

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