Yesterday (25 May) marked the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd; an event that became a global catalyst for accelerated action to tackle racial inequality and injustice.

Reflecting on the past year, London Councils Executive Member for Welfare, Empowerment and Inclusion, Cllr Muhammed Butt, says that leaders across London have expressed their support for raising their collective game on racial equality, including by signing up to a shared statement at London Councils’ Leaders' Committee committing to action to create a fairer and more equal society.

There remains, however, 'a long road ahead'. You can read Cllr Butt's comments in full in the MJ here.

Responding to the publication today of the Shelter report: Denied the right to a safe home: Exposing the housing emergency, London Councils Executive Member for Housing & Planning Cllr Darren Rodwell said: "The emergency is particularly severe in London, where we face the highest homelessness levels and worst housing pressures in the entire country.

“Boroughs are determined to do everything we can to ensure every Londoner has a safe and secure home – but councils need urgent government action to make this happen. Only the government can bring forward the massive investment in social housing and changes to the welfare system required to resolve the worsening crisis.”

London Councils estimates 165,000 homeless Londoners currently live in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough – accounting for almost two-thirds of the total number across England. Around a quarter of a million Londoners are on waiting lists for council housing.

Last week London Councils warned of a “triple whammy” of risks that could see homelessness rise to record levels in the coming months.

Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz was elected as the new leader of Islington Council at the borough's AGM last week (20 May).Cllr Comer-Schwartz has taken over from Cllr Richard Watts who has taken up a new role as the London Mayor's deputy chief of staff.

Cllr Watts has resigned his council seat and a by-election will be held in Tollington ward on Thursday 1 July.

First elected to the council in 2013, Cllr Comer-Schwartz has served on the council’s executive for six years, most recently as executive member for children, young people and families and prior to that as executive member for community development. She has been deputy leader since 2020.