Cllr Monica Press, Leader of the Labour Group of councillors, who represents Colville ward, addressed the full meeting of the new council. Here is her speech in full

 

Thank you Madam Mayor and congratulations on your election. And congratulations to Cllr Nur on his election as Deputy Mayor. Just one of the many talented and dedicated individuals that come out of the North Kensington community. We hope you both have a very enjoyable and successful year and look forward to welcoming you frequently in North Kensington.

And thank you Cllr Campbell for your welcome …

You note that your vote share rose and we in the Labour party are happy to take some credit in saving you all in the south gym membership and getting you out on the doorstep far more than in previous elections as you faced opposition from 2 parties in the south and we recognise your

hard work in trying to take St Helen’s. Our commiserations. But the Tory party has never had a mandate in North Kensington and once again the Labour Party and 13 Labour councillors represent all 5 wards in the Republic of North Kensington.

And I want to note and congratulate the Lib Dems in now having all three seats in the Estate of Earl’s Court a mark of the three candidates hard work, the awful neglect of so many residents in Earls Court by this council and the many years of hard work and casework by Cllr Wade. 

Congratulations Cllrs. So we now have 16 alternative voices in this Chamber.

But jesting apart. It is a time for reflection for both we main parties as voters have made it clear they want more choice and the days of two party politics are numbered. A 37% turn out although a little better than usual is nothing to be proud of and within that % we must recognise that a number of voters who did turn out voted for other parties. Reform 10% and Green 8%.

National and International issues may have influenced our voters here in Kensington & Chelsea but this opposition party will be focusing on local borough level issues and the key issues impacting the just under 150,000 in our wards, and also the many hard working but struggling residents across this borough, such as the many forgotten and marginalised residents in council and Housing Association housing and over-priced private rentals in the south of the borough.

It is time for all of us in the chamber to recognise the importance of this Council’s Charter for Public Participation and how it is understood and implemented by all of us and officers, not just the final 6 week on-line consultation process but the key stages and the very first pledge this council makes as regards it’s values and behaviour that states this Council “accepts the principle that those impacted upon by major proposals or actions should be given an opportunity to be involved in advance” in advance.

The first pledge this Labour Group makes in its 2026 Manifesto is “to ensure that local voices are heard by decision makers” and that we will “Keep our residents fully informed and consulted on all changes in the ward that affect them and their neighbourhood”. This is a key priority for us in opposition as we pledge to work for all our residents regardless of who they voted for.

The majority party may be looking to celebrate as they enter the 61st year of controlling this Council but it is shocking and shameful that as RBKC remains one of the richest boroughs in the UK it remains the most unequal borough in Britain and this divide is deepening with stark contrasts in wealth, health and life expectancy between the North and South. 

We are here to work for a fairer Kensington and Chelsea. In the North we on average die 17 years younger than residents in the South and we have much higher rates of diabetes, hypertension and mental health issues. Low Pay, Unemployment and Child Poverty rates are significantly higher in North Ken than London averages. 

The borough has historically high rates of school exclusions mainly in the North. This divide was highlighted by the Grenfell Tower Fire a totally avoidable disaster. And we will continue to fight for truth and justice for the victims, survivors and bereaved this year as does our Labour MP Joe Powell.

Justice cannot be delayed or denied any longer. Individuals and companies need to be charged and brought to court this year. It may have been almost 9 years ago but we won’t forget and cannot understand the Leaderships’ decision to withdraw the Chairing of the Housing Scrutiny Committee from the Labour Group. This decision is yet another broken commitment made after the Grenfell Tower fire.

Nine years since the Grenfell Disaster, but only nine months since the UK Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published an inspection judgement in August, 2025, which graded RBKC Housing a “C3” for “serious failings”. Noting major shortcomings, including:

• The high percentage of homes failing to meet the decent homes

standard.

• Backlogs in repairs and incomplete fire risk assessments.

What message does taking a North Kensington Labour Chair from the Housing Scrutiny committee send Grenfell survivors and bereaved and all of us in North Kensington and living in RBKC Managed homes. A council whose Housing Department is in “special measures” should be scrutinised by an opposition party chaired scrutiny committee. It’s unjust, illogical and plain unfair and could take us back nine years re relations with the North Kensington community.

International and National events and policies will continue to impact on us here in RBKC and we recognise the challenges to this council by the cost of living crisis and fair funding calculations for borough level funding and we are here to assist and help with the many difficult choices that this Council will have to take over the next four years. Although far less difficult than many poorer London boroughs.

We’re here to help…we’re here to work for a fairer Kensington and Chelsea…when tackling a reduced annual budget and funding, this Council’s instinct was to immediately focus on, briefly consult on and then reduce the Council Tax reductions offered to the poorest families in this borough. Saving a mere £440,000 at the expense of the very poorest 5,000 residents. 

And only later be reluctantly dragged into raising the Council Tax on second homes of some of the richest residents in the borough by 5% – a solution to the underfunding suggested by the Govt – and resulting in extra income calculated at £12million p.a. We’re here to ensure you take the fairer choice first time.

So we’re very pleased to be back in numbers. We’re skilled, organised, informed and united, and we will be a serious, responsible and active opposition. Committed to ensuring services, opportunities and funding are more fairly shared across this borough. 

And hopefully save this council enough money that by 2030 it can afford a few more chairs for candidates at the election night count!