Labour is now the official opposition in the City Council – and its councillors will work their hardest to get the best for the people of Portsmouth.

The nine Labour councillors, who were confirmed as the official opposition at the City Council annual general meeting, will work with the council administration in the best interests of the city and its residents – but will also hold it to account when they believe it’s not getting things right.

The Labour team’s shadow portfolios, and the committees and other positions they will serve in 2025/26, are:

• Leader – Councillor Charlotte Gerada. Positions: Employment Committee; Traffic, Environment & Community Safety Scrutiny Panel; Twinning Advisory Group.
• Deputy Leader – Councillor Graham Heaney. Portfolio: Community Wellbeing, Health & Care; Transport. Positions: Scrutiny Management Panel; Housing & Social Care Scrutiny Panel; Langstone Harbour Board.
• Councillor Raj Ghosh – Portfolio: Housing and Tackling Homelessness. Position: Economic Development, Culture & Leisure Scrutiny Panel.
• Councillor Judith Smyth – Portfolio: Climate Change & Greening the City; Planning Policy & City Development. Positions: Planning Committee; Governance & Audit & Standards Committee; Health Overview & Scrutiny Panel.
• Councillor Asghar Shah – Portfolio: Environmental Services. Positions: Traffic, Environment & Community Safety; Licensing Committee.
• Councillor George Fielding – Portfolio: Central Services.
• Councillor Tom Coles – Portfolio: Children, Families & Education. Positions: Licensing Committee; Local Government Association General Assembly; Twinning Advisory Group.
• Councillor Yinka Adeniran – Portfolio: Community Safety, Leisure & Sport. Positions: Licensing Committee; Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel; Twinning Advisory Group.
• Councillor Mary Vallely – Positions: Planning Committee; Scrutiny Management Panel; Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel; Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority.

In addition, councillors will deputise for their colleagues on various committees and panels when necessary. 

There was even more to celebrate on this red-letter day for the Labour group. At the annual mayor-making ceremony, when Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson became Lord Mayor, Councillor Yinka Adeniran (Charles Dickens) became joint Deputy Lady Mayoress for the next municipal year. She’ll be working alongside Kadir’s wife to support the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Abdul Kadir.

Labour Group Leader Charlotte Gerada said: “Portsmouth Labour councillors are proud of how the new mayoral team reflects our diverse city – shaped by centuries of commerce, trade and openness to the world.”