Labour took over Southwark Council earlier this year in May.

Since that time 7 of their top councillors have failed to declare their interests correctly. In times of huge understandable concern over parliamentary sleaze this is unforgivable. One of them appears to have completed their declarations two weeks ago but the other 6 still haven’t. This is despite numerous requests from officers over the last eight months as declaring all your interests within 28 days of being elected or a change in circumstances is a legal requirement under Part 3 section 17 of the Local Government Act of 2000. This is reiterated within the Southwark Council Code of Conduct which clearly they are in breach of.

For clarity and to spell it out for my delinquent Labour colleagues.

Not making any declaration: Cllr Abdul Mohamed (Cabinet member for Equalities and Community Engagement).

Section 4 of their declarations failing to state they are members of the Labour Party: Cllr Barrie Hargrove (Cabinet member for Environment), Cllr Althea Smith (Chair of the council Planning Committee), Cllr Ian Wingfield (Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet member for Housing Management).

Section 7 failing to state who financially has supported their election campaigning: Cllr Catherine McDonald (Cabinet member for ).

Not stating where they work from as other barristers do/have – Southwark buys in a lot of professional legal and barrister support – Cllr Peter John (Leader of the Council).

I’m not sure they get how angry residents are over sleaze. Failing to declare all your interests is at best lazy and at worst looks positively sleazy and brings all councillors in disrepute.