Liam McGrath

Liam McGrath – Goose Green

Vote Labour May 7th

I’m standing as your Southwark Labour candidate because I’ve spent 15 years working on some of the issues that matter most — housing, transport and community energy. Now I want to do that work from inside the council.

I’ve lived in Southwark for over a decade and reached a point in my career where I have the skills and experience to give something back. I’m a Civil Engineer by training, with nearly 20 years in transport — working across engineering consultancies, railway operators, and now Transport for London.

When I realised housing was the biggest crisis facing London, I didn’t just talk about it. In 2017 I joined the board of Leathermarket Community Benefit Society, which has built two 100% social rent blocks in Southwark with two more about to start construction. I then co-founded SE1 Solar — a community energy group tackling fuel poverty by installing solar panels on local estates.

The cost of living crisis is the number one issue facing our residents. High housing costs and energy bills are at its heart. I’m proud to have led community groups taking both on directly.

Affordable Homes

I was co-chair of Leathermarket Community Benefit Society, which built 67 council-rent homes in Southwark. We have two more developments on the way.

Energy Bills

I founded SE1 Solar to bring community-owned clean energy to Southwark estates — cutting bills and carbon at the same time. Locally generated green energy is the most effective way to bring costs down.

Transport

Nearly 20 years at TfL and engineering consultancies gives me genuine expertise — not just opinions — on buses, road schemes, cycling infrastructure, and what actually makes streets work for everyone.

Community

I’ve volunteered locally for a decade: whether that’s emergency food during the pandemic or for my Tenants Management Organisation.

I’ve knocked on over 1500 doors in East Dulwich as of March 2026 and I’m listening to your views.

Why Labour?

We are fortunate to live in Southwark, where the main parties share broadly progressive values. I genuinely share many values with the Liberal Democrats and Greens, and have voted for both in past elections.

But I’ve seen at a practical level that Southwark Labour delivers. My housing projects were wholeheartedly supported by Labour councillors. SE1 Solar has been supported with both funding and guidance. The track record is real — not just promised.

Running a council means making difficult compromises. It’s easy to oppose from the outside. My career has been about finding the best solution with limited budgets. I believe Labour has the most experience of doing that well in Southwark, and the most credible, funded plans.

The Southwark Labour manifesto sets out Labour’s plans for Southwark. You can read it here: https://southwarklabour.com/plan/

What I heard on your doorstep

Across Southwark the top concerns I hear on the doorstep are cost of living and housing. In East Dulwich many of you have raised three additional concerns regularly:

1. Road schemes — LTNs, CPZs and School Streets

I support making our streets easier to walk and cycle in — the evidence on health benefits and accident reduction is clear. But I’ve heard too many stories of unfair fines, knock-on traffic displacement onto less affluent streets, and residents feeling unheard. I won’t remove existing schemes, but I will listen far more carefully going forward.

2. Litter, dog mess and street cleanliness

It sounds minor but it isn’t — it undermines our otherwise thriving streets and is frankly unacceptable. The perpetrators are responsible but the council can do more. I will look at what practical interventions actually work and push for them.

3. Protecting and improving what we love

Residents are rightly proud of our leisure centre, libraries, parks, and Lordship Lane — surely the best place to eat and shop in London. I will fight to keep these thriving, add more benches and improve open spaces, and tackle the dangerous junction at East Dulwich Grove. As a transport modelling expert I have a better chance of getting that junction fixed than most.

Vote for all three Labour candidates on May 7th

I’m thrilled to be standing alongside two experienced councillors with a strong track record of delivery in Goose Green and Southwark. They bring a wealth of experience: Portia serves as cabinet member for housing and Charlie serves on essential committees. You can find out more about all our candidates at the Southwark Labour website

Please vote for all three of us.

Contact me

I would love to hear from you. Tell me you ideas for the area, any concerns or any questions

Thank you,

Liam

Promoted by Robert Smeath on behalf of Southwark Labour, all at 264 Rosendale Road, London, SE24 9DL