Southbank Centre’s Jude Kelly joins Lambeth Equality Commission

Speaking at Wednesday night's council meeting, Lambeth leader Cllr Lib Peck said: "It does strike all of us that while the picture of London for many people is one of excitement and opportunity and fulfilling aspiration ... there is also a growing disparity between some of those people with access to that opportunity and that wealth and those who are stuck with some obstacle to fulfilling what could be their ambition."

Cllr Peck said she wanted the commission to identify "practical ways in which we can make sure that we can get rid of some of the barriers" with particular reference to Lambeth's Portuguese, Afro-Caribbean and Somalian communities, as well as adults living with disabilities.

Commissioners will include Southbank Centre's Jude Kelly, Canon Rosemarie Mallett, public policy advisor to the Diocese of Southwark, and Pedro Xavier.

Lambeth's Equality Commission will be hosting four events between November and January 2017 to take a deeper look into the reasons behind persistent inequalities in the borough.

Each event will focus on one of four themes; education and learning, income and employment, participation, representation and leadership and crime and justice.

The events will be held in different parts of the borough, with the crime and justice session due to take place at Waterloo Action Centre in January.