Councillor Peter John will serve as Southwark Council leader, following a unanimous vote from councillors.

Councillor John listed a number of factors the businesses and communities in the borough faced, including housing, crime and environmental issues, which he said would form the council’s agenda for the next four years.

“It’s about the agenda of building genuinely affordable housing, including 1000 new council homes for the people of our borough, continuing to improve existing housing stock, embedding meaningful communication and dialogue with our residents, finding employment and training opportunities for all and boosting our economy, tackling violence and youth crime, improving our environmental air quality, ensuring the borough is ready after Brexit in the next years,” he said.

Councillor John said the Labour group “were doing something right” following an increase in voter support in the borough.

“We got 10 per cent more [votes in the election] than what we got four years ago [in the previous election], so maybe we are doing something right over that period of time,” he said.

He said the Labour councillors would “work tirelessly” to represent their communities.

“Our Labour group is based in our communities, based in towns residents associations, based in churches, mosques and other faith centres,” he said.

“We take nothing for granted and will work tirelessly to continue to represent the people of our borough over the next four years.”

Councillor Rebecca Lury was named deputy leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Equalities and Communities.

Councillor Evelyn Akoto was named cabinet member for community safety and public health.

Councillor Jasmine Ali was named cabinet member for children, schools and adult care.

Councillor Stephanie Cryab was named cabinet member for housing management and modernisation.

Councillor Richard Livingstone was named cabinet member for environment, transport management and air quality.

Councillor Victoria Mills was named cabinet member for finance, performance and Brexit.

Councillor Leo Pollak was named cabinet member for social regeneration great estates and new council homes.

Councillor Johnson Situ was named cabinet member for growth, planning and development.

Councillor Kieron Williams was named cabinet member for jobs, skills and innovation.