A former The Apprentice star, entrepreneur and professional speaker is running to become the next Mayor of Lewisham.
Kayode Damali, who was born and raised in the borough, is an independent candidate who believes Lewisham needs “a new style of leadership” with a resident-first approach.
Kayode was a contestant on the BBC’s The Apprentice in 2018 and has a career in professional speaking, entrepreneurship and hosting events. He also enjoys taking part in various local initiatives, and serves as Run Director for Catford parkrun and Forster Memorial Park Junior parkrun.
Kayode has a large following on social media and regularly posts TikTok videos where he discusses local news articles and issues which generate thousands of views and attract numerous responses from Lewisham residents.
Instead of focusing on large-scale canvassing to promote his bid to become mayor, Kayode is primarily using his social media platforms to power his mayoral campaign.
He spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) about his vision for Lewisham, and why he doesn’t want to be part of a political party.
“I believe Lewisham should be run independently, not by a mayor who has to tow the party lines,” Kayode said.
“The minute I become part of a party, then it’s Lewisham plus a party. For me, it’s Lewisham or nothing.”
He added: “If this election wasn’t taking place right now, I wouldn’t be running anywhere else.
“I thought the best thing to do is to run and stand as an independent rather than see it as a career. I don’t want to work my way up to become Prime Minister or Mayor of London or anything like that.”
Kayode explains that his campaign is centred around four key goals which form the acronym WISH.
He said: “‘W’ [stands for] working and housing, I want to have a borough where people can afford to live and thrive. ‘I’ - having a stronger identity and pride in Lewisham.
“‘S’ - safer and cleaner streets for everyone. ‘H’ is for honest and independent leadership.”
He added: “[If I were mayor], I’d be so approachable. I’ll set up a marquee in the town centre once a month where residents can come and ask me anything. My cabinet members and my councillors will be known – that’s what I mean by honest and independent leadership.
“I will be so transparent with it you will know there’s nothing being held back.”
Although he is standing as an independent, Kayode says he would “love” to have a Cabinet made up of councillors from different political parties.
He said: “I get on with whoever. We might not fundamentally agree on different things potentially, but as long as we have the main vision for Lewisham, that’s the only thing that matters.
“We can make it work, no matter what party you’re from. I’d love to work with people from different parties, I don’t think we should have a one-party domination in Lewisham.”
He added: “I get on with the Labour councillors, I get on with the Green councillors. Obviously, you’ve only got Labour and Green [currently in Lewisham], I don’t have an issue with any of them as an individual. I would love to work with them.”
Kayode says he’s “never one to pretend I have all the answers” but says he will listen to everyone’s “unique experiences” no matter their background.
He added: “Lewisham has been run by the same political structures for decades, and on the whole residents are not happy. Electing me would mean an independent leader that answers directly to residents. Not to party lines.
“I’m also not someone who only appears or cares during election time. I’ve been here before the campaign, I’m here during the campaign, and I’ll be here long after the campaign too.”
On May 7, Lewisham residents who are eligible to vote will be participating in two local elections: one is for the next set of local councillors while the other is for the next mayor to lead the council.
Lewisham is one of five London boroughs that has a directly elected mayor, with the other boroughs being Croydon, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets.
The role is different to that of a ceremonial mayor, and they are in charge of leading the council, directing the council’s strategy and are responsible for proposing the annual budget. They also chair the council cabinet which is made up of elected councillors.
The eight candidates who are hoping to become the next Mayor of Lewisham.
- Jay Delaney Coward – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Kayode Damali – Independent
- Amanda De Ryk – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Josh Matthews – Liberal Democrats
- Roger Mighton – Independent
- Pete Newman – Reform UK
- Liam Shrivastava – Green Party
- Sylbourne Sydial – Conservatives
