Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE, Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, has announced that she is stepping down from the role she has held for over 17 years – making her the longest-serving Council Leader in Bexley and one of the longest in London.

She has reached the difficult decision not to run for re-election next May and to step down as Leader in November, in order to ensure there's a seamless transition to a new Leader. She intends to concentrate on her work in the House of Lords, from where she will continue to promote the interests of Bexley residents and serve as a figurehead for the borough. She will continue as a Councillor until May 2026.

The Conservative Group of Council Members will choose her successor as Leader, which should be formally ratified by Members of the Council at the next Full Council meeting on 5 November.

The Council’s Corporate Leadership Team will continue to lead delivery of the Corporate Plan and priorities.

Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE said,

After more than 27 incredible years as a Councillor – the last 17 as Leader – I have made the very difficult decision not to stand for re-election in the May 2026 local elections. I was elevated to the House of Lords shortly after the election in 2022 but, having committed to a further four years at the election, I was determined to fulfil that commitment. I remain deeply committed to the borough and our residents, as indeed I am one, but it is now time for me to focus on my work as a Peer. I intend to continue fighting Bexley’s corner in Parliament, which offers a platform for promoting the borough’s interests nationally.”

Councillor Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE was first elected to the London Borough of Bexley to represent Brampton Ward on 8 May 1998. She has been successfully re-elected since then, with a move to Crook Log Ward, following voluntary Ward boundary changes in 2018. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Officer) in 2015 and made a life peer (Baroness) in November 2022.

Under her leadership, the Council has delivered many achievements including the new Civic Offices (saving taxpayers £2m a year in running costs and creating housing and job opportunities), significant regeneration projects in Thamesmead, Erith, Crayford, Welling and Slade Green (with more to do), new schools (including for children with special educational needs), leading the partnership to deliver the QMS campus (including the Urgent Care Centre, Dialysis, Cancer and Community Diagnostic Centres), delivering the pandemic response (including the Community Champions scheme to reach across our community), saving Bexleyheath Police Station from closure and seeking to transform services rather than cut them to deliver value for money for our residents.