Central London Forward has elected a new Chair and Deputy Chair to lead the cross-party organisation for the next two years. This follows the 2026 London local elections, held on 7 May, which brought changes to council leadership to local authorities in Central London.
Having been elected at a meeting of the Central London Forward Partnership Board this week, the new Chair is Cllr James McAsh, Leader of Southwark Council and the new Deputy Chair is Cllr Emma Will, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance and Property, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Cllr McAsh has been a councillor in Southwark since 2018 and was elected as Leader of the Council following the 2026 Local Elections. He previously served as a Cabinet Member on the Council, leading on clean air, active travel and sustainable public realm. Cllr McAsh is also a primary school teacher.
Cllr Will has been a councillor in Royal Hospital Ward, Kensington and Chelsea since 2010, during which time she has held lead member roles across education, children’s services, and most recently finance and property. She was elected as Deputy Leader of the Council following the 2026 Local Elections.
The CLF Partnership Board, which comprises Leaders and elected Mayors from CLF’s 12 member local authorities, is now constituted as follows:
- Cllr Sagal Abdi-Wali (Camden, Labour)
- Cllr Martin Abrams (Lambeth, Green)
- Cllr Mark Blake (Haringey, Green)
- Cllr Emma Will (Kensington and Chelsea, Conservative)
- Mayor Zoe Garbett (Hackney, Green)
- Policy Chairman Chris Hayward (City of London, Independent)
- Cllr James McAsh (Southwark, Green)
- Cllr Una O’Halloran (Islington, Labour)
- Mayor Lutfer Rahman (Tower Hamlets, Aspire)
- Cllr Aled Richards-Jones (Wandsworth, Conservative)
- Mayor Liam Shrivastava (Lewisham, Green)
- Cllr Paul Swaddle (Westminster, Conservative)
Cllr James McAsh, Chair of Central London Forward and Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We live in the heart of the world’s greatest city and it’s an honour to be elected Chair of Central London Forward. It’s vital that everyone who lives here benefits from being in Central London, but we know this is getting harder for too many. Inner London is becoming ever more unaffordable, and growth isn’t always felt by the communities that need it most.
The Fair Funding Review hit our boroughs the hardest, and the lack of investment in infrastructure, such as the Bakerloo Line Extension, continues to hold us back. I greatly look forward to working together to make sure London benefits all of our residents and businesses.”
Cllr Emma Will, Deputy Chair of Central London Forward and Deputy Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Deputy-Chair of Central London Forward. Central London is the engine room of the country’s economy, and I look forward to making the argument for more investment, more opportunity and better outcomes for our area. When London succeeds, this country succeeds, and a thriving capital city is more important now than ever.”
Mark Williams, Director of Central London Forward, said: “I’m delighted to welcome our new and returning board members following May’s local elections. This is a crucial time for our boroughs, their residents, businesses and visitors. Central London’s economy is one of the most productive in the country but accessing the opportunities our city has to offer remains a persistent challenge, I look forward to supporting our new chair and deputy chair as our boroughs work together to improve central London for all.”
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Central London Forward (CLF) is a partnership of the 12 central London local authorities. We cover Camden, City of London, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. We work together with our member authorities and with other stakeholders to support inclusive and sustainable growth in central London; so that our economy thrives, and our residents benefit from the opportunities this creates. CLF supports coordination and collaboration across the sub-region, we conduct research and help shape policy development, and we manage large-scale employment and skills programmes in central London.