Retail and Hospitality Sector

Lord John of Southwark Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord John of Southwark (Lab) (Maiden)]

My Lords, it is the greatest pleasure to rise in this debate and to give my maiden speech—the last in a quartet from the Labour local government family. I did wonder whether we look like a 1990s pop group announcing our reunion tour.

I first thank Black Rod, the Clerk of the Parliaments, the doorkeepers, the police and all of the House staff who made my introduction such an awe-inspiring and memorable experience, and to all noble Lords for giving me such a warm welcome. I of course give my very real thanks to my noble friends Lady Smith of Basildon and Lord Kennedy of Southwark who supported me at my introduction. Not only are they the real A-team of the Labour Benches, but they have been very real friends and champions of mine over many years. Both have strong connections with Southwark, the borough I led and which I am so proud to have in my title, which is now very widely and objectively regarded as the best borough in London.

I understand that it is customary in a maiden speech to a go a little bit “Strictly Come Dancing” contestant and to talk about my journey to this place. In my case, my journey began in Weston-super-Mare. My parents were not political, but my Labour Party education came from my great-aunt, Peggy England-Jones, who was the party agent and secretary in Swansea for many years, and among whose charges was a young MP, my noble friend Lord Anderson of Swansea, who I am terrified to note has known me since I was aged seven.

My journey moved from Worle comprehensive school in Weston to university at Queen Mary College here in London; a career at the Bar, practising for the last 25 years in contentious probate; election as a local councillor in Southwark for 20 years, with 10 of those as council leader; and two and a half years as chair of London Councils. In the last few years, I have returned to practice at the Bar, have become involved in business and am proudly a member of the board at the Old Vic Theatre, one of our very real national cultural gems.

That journey has informed my political priorities and interests, from delivering high-quality social and private housing across Southwark to promoting the regeneration of a borough which not so long ago was seen as somewhere no taxi driver would take you, because it was “sarf of the river”. Today, you can look from the Shard and London Bridge to the Elephant and Castle, from Blackfriars Road to Peckham, and from Bermondsey to Canada Water, and see the demonstrable benefits of growth in new homes, new businesses and new jobs, and from ensuring that every young person has the best start in life and vastly increased skills and training opportunities, to ensuring that the arts and culture are something which are accessible to all and valued by many. Those are the priorities which will inform my work in this House and why it feels appropriate for me to be speaking on this subject today—for I believe that local government has a critical role to play in creating the best circumstances for the retail and hospitality industries to flourish.

When Southwark embarked on the regeneration of the Elephant and Castle, few would have believed that it could so quickly develop such a vibrant new hospitality offer, so that people of all ages now choose to meet and spend their leisure time there. I am pleased to report that the aim of recreating the Elephant’s historic heyday as the Piccadilly of south London is well on the way to being achieved. But it did not happen by accident, and that together with other examples, such as Borough Yards and Peckham Levels in the borough, demonstrate the critical role that local authorities can play in creating and curating the environments in which restaurants, bars and shops can prosper. It requires vision and it requires confidence.

I am not blind to the fact that the nature of retail and hospitality on our high streets is fundamentally changing; it has been for at least the last decade. The complaints from the sector today are, sadly, not new. I am sure that it can sometimes feel that government gets in the way or adds unnecessary burdens, but we will all have also seen a café, bar, restaurant or shop which does succeed—apparently against the odds.

Let us recognise the challenges the sector faces, encourage local governments to be the leaders in place-making—which we know they can be—support our local businesses and reject any counsels of despair. Let us be the optimists.