Brenda Dacres facts for kids

Brenda Vanessa Dacres was born in November 1966. She is a British politician from the Labour Party. She is currently the Mayor of Lewisham, a part of London. In 2024, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to be elected Mayor of Lewisham. She is also the second Black woman to be a directly elected mayor in England, after Joanne Anderson.

Who is Brenda Dacres?

Brenda Dacres is a leader who works for the people of Lewisham. As Mayor, she helps make important decisions for the area. She is part of the Labour Party, which is one of the main political parties in the United Kingdom.

Early Life

Brenda Dacres grew up in a family with a "working class" background. This means her parents worked hard in jobs that often involved manual labor. Her parents were also part of the "Windrush generation." This term refers to people who came to the UK from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1971. They came to help rebuild Britain after World War II.

Her Political Journey

Before becoming Mayor, Brenda Dacres served on the Lewisham London Borough Council. This council is like a local government for Lewisham. She was elected to represent different areas, called "wards," within Lewisham. She was elected in the New Cross ward in 2014 and 2018. Later, she was elected in the Deptford ward in 2022.

She also served as a "councillor" and held roles like "deputy mayor" on the council. These roles helped her gain experience in local government.

Becoming Mayor of Lewisham

Brenda Dacres first tried to become the Labour candidate for Mayor of Lewisham in 2017. However, another politician named Damien Egan was chosen instead. He then became the Mayor in 2018.

In 2024, a special election was held for the Mayor of Lewisham. This was because Damien Egan had been elected to the UK Parliament. Brenda Dacres ran for the position again and this time she won. She officially became the Mayor of Lewisham on March 8, 2024.