Brenda Dacres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brenda Dacres
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|---|---|
| Mayor of Lewisham | |
| Assumed office 8 March 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Damien Egan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1966 (age 58) |
| Political party | Labour |
Brenda Vanessa Dacres (born November 1966) is a British politician. She is a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party. Brenda Dacres is currently the Mayor of Lewisham. Lewisham is an area in London, England. In 2024, she made history. She became the first black woman to be a directly elected mayor in England. This means people in Lewisham voted directly for her to be their leader.
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Who is Brenda Dacres?
Brenda Dacres was born in November 1966. Her parents were part of the Windrush generation. This was a group of people who came to the UK from Caribbean countries. They came to help rebuild Britain after World War II. Brenda grew up in a family that worked hard.
Her Political Journey
Brenda Dacres has been involved in local politics for many years. She has worked to make her community better.
Becoming a Councillor
Brenda Dacres served on the Lewisham London Borough Council. This is the local government for Lewisham. She was elected as a councillor in 2014. She represented the New Cross area. She was re-elected in 2018 for New Cross. Later, in 2022, she was elected for the Deptford area. A "ward" is a small local area that a councillor represents.
She also served as the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Lewisham. These roles are different from the directly elected Mayor. They are more like a ceremonial leader for the council.
Running for Mayor
Brenda Dacres first tried to become the Mayor of Lewisham in 2017. She wanted to be the Labour Party candidate. However, another politician, Damien Egan, was chosen instead. Damien Egan then became the Mayor in 2018.
In 2024, a special election was held. This is called a "by-election." It happened because Damien Egan left his role as Mayor. He was elected to the UK Parliament instead.
Making History
Brenda Dacres ran for Mayor again in the 2024 by-election. This time, she won! She became the new Mayor of Lewisham. Her election was a big moment. She is the first black woman to be directly elected as a mayor in England. This shows how important it is for different voices to be heard in politics.
