Councillor Chris Best will be Lewisham’s new deputy mayor, after former-nominee Janet Daby was announced as Labour’s candidate for the Lewisham East by-election.

Lewisham’s mayor Damien Egan said he wanted to emphasise experience when he announced his nominees for cabinet and deputy mayor.

“In building a new team at the council I put a lot of consideration and emphasis on experience, with councillors who have had so much time on the council already, in recognition of tough times that we have ahead,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Chris Best, who is also the cabinet member for health and adult social care, said she had spent 32 years serving the community and was the longest-serving councillor on the council.

“What I can bring to you is knowledge. Obviously, I know how the council works. Part of my role is listening and I will be liaising with you particularly in my role over the next couple of weeks,” she said.

She would focus on care standards in her cabinet role, which would include having the council sign the Unison care charter, guaranteeing the council would ensure the safety, quality and dignity of care with a focus on fair pay and training.

She would also start work on the publicly-owned community cased care organisation in Lewisham Labour's manifesto, which provides advice, support and care outside of a traditional hospital setting.

This includes GP services and social care support, as well as a range of other care and support provided by the NHS, the Council and the voluntary and community sector, according to NHS documents.

Mr Egan said Ms Best’s experience had already proved “vital” to the council, and that she was a “passionate champion of social care.”

Janet Daby, a former cabinet member for community safety who was first nominated for the deputy mayoralty, will be standing for Labour in the Lewisham East by election, where she is a favourite to win the seat.