She is the longest serving leader in Bexley’s history, and one of the longest serving in the city, having also been a councillor for 27 years.
As well as stepping down from her leadership role, the Baroness will not run for re-election as a councillor in May. Bexley Council said she decided to step down as leader ahead of next year’s elections to ensure a “seamless transition” to the new leader.
The Baroness has made the decision to leave the council in order to focus on her work in the House of Lords where “she will continue to promote the interests of Bexley residents and serve as a figurehead for the borough”.
Baroness O’Neill 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.”
Conservative members on Bexley Council will choose the next leader in the coming months. The decision on Baroness O’Neill’s successor should be formally ratified by all councillors at the next Full Council meeting on November 5.
Councillor Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE was first elected to the London Borough of Bexley to represent Brampton Ward on May 8, 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.
A Bexley Council spokesperson said: “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.”
