London, 2nd April 2026
Grassroots coalition fields community challengers across Brixton, Clapham, Stockwell, and Windrush wards
BRIXTON — The Shake It Up campaign, a community-led movement aiming to break Labour’s dominance on Lambeth Council, will host an Open Forum on Housing this Saturday, 11th April 2026, at the Brixton Project in Canterbury Crescent.
The event, running from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, brings together residents, housing experts, and local activists to develop a Resident Led Action Plan that will form the campaign’s official housing policy. Organisers describe the forum as a direct response to what they call “Lambeth Housing Policy putting profit before safe warm homes.”
Meet the Shake It Up Independent Candidates
The Shake It Up coalition, founded by Ruby Bukhari and rooted in community organising, is fielding a diverse slate of independent candidates across multiple wards ahead of the 7th May local elections. All candidates are committed to introducing Citizens’ Assemblies — randomly selected community bodies that would hold councillors directly accountable.
According to the official Shake It Up website, the confirmed candidates are:
| Candidate | Ward | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby Bukhari | Acre Lane | Programme leader, social justice advocate, founder of Ruthless International; former community advice centre worker helping English- and Spanish-speaking families |
| Harry O’Donoghue | Clapham Park | Irish immigrant; Palestinian solidarity activist; founder of Irish in Britain against political policing |
| Tara Amfo | Myatts Field | Born and raised in Lambeth; Occupational Health Technician; neurodivergent advocate; campaigned for in-school counsellors |
| Joanne Scott | Windrush Ward | 22-year resident of Windrush Ward; runs “When We Talk We Heal” CIC (creative healing workshops); care worker |
| Neila Baiguzhanova | Stockwell Ward | 19-year Stockwell resident; mental health counsellor; community advocate on Lansdowne Green fighting damp homes and ignored repairs |
| Eduardo Salgado | Brixton North | Bus driver, translator, former immigration caseworker, ESL teacher; long-time Acre Lane resident; editor of internationalist SolidarioGB site. |
Candidate Statements: Real People, Real Communities
The Shake It Up campaign describes its candidates as “Real people. Real communities. Real change.” Their statements reveal a shared frustration with Labour’s record on housing, crime, and community engagement.
Ruby Bukhari, the campaign’s founder, calls Brixton “the first place Ruby truly calls home.” Her experience running a community advice centre helping English- and Spanish-speaking families navigate housing and employment shaped her commitment to “practical, community-led solutions.”
Neila Baiguzhanova, standing in Stockwell Ward, speaks directly to the housing crisis: “As a mental health counsellor and community advocate on Lansdowne Green, I’ve fought alongside families facing damp homes, ignored repairs, and council doors that slam shut. My child went to our local school – I live your daily battles.”
Eduardo Salgado, standing in Brixton North, emphasises the invisibility of working-class and migrant communities: “I’ve watched housing, unemployment, and crime never get better under Labour. Our Latin American, Portuguese-speaking, Jamaican, and African communities feel invisible. If elected, I won’t just be your voice – I’ll be your partner.”
Joanne Scott of Windrush Ward adds: “Everything I do is rooted in community, compassion and the belief that real change starts with being heard. I believe that setting up a Community Assembly is the best way to put decisions back into residents’ hands.”
Harry O’Donoghue, standing in Clapham Park, draws on Irish experience: “In Ireland, I have seen that community assemblies have been used successfully to drive major change and are the best local tool to hold your representatives to account.”
Tara Amfo, born and raised in Lambeth, brings a neurodivergent perspective: “Since being diagnosed as neurodivergent, I’ve spoken with government representatives about the importance of recognising and supporting neurodiversity in workplaces and institutions.”
Citizens’ Assemblies: The Core Policy Proposal
Central to Shake It Up’s platform are Citizens’ Assemblies — large community gatherings selected by sortition (randomly, akin to jury duty). Participants would voice concerns, propose solutions, and consult experts. Shake It Up councillors would be “directly at the behest” of these assemblies.
Founder Ruby Bukhari and campaign organiser Roger Hallam have argued that such assemblies empower residents, making it “difficult for any councillor to justify ignoring” their results. The model draws inspiration from global grassroots campaigns including Bernie Sanders’ US presidential bids and Mahmdani’s successful New York mayoral campaign.
Forum Schedule: From Expert Evidence to Action Plan
Saturday’s forum is structured to move from diagnosis to action:
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Expert witnesses present evidence on Lambeth’s housing strategy, followed by Q&A
- 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Small group introductions and facilitated discussion
- 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Lunch provided
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Residents write a collective Action Plan
- 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Small groups feedback findings to the full assembly
Local experts who have been investigating the council’s housing strategy will present alternative approaches. Attendees will then break into facilitated discussion groups to develop concrete policy proposals.
A Crowded Anti-Labour Field
Shake It Up joins a growing anti-Labour movement across Lambeth that includes the Green Party (already four seats), Liberal Democrats (bolstered by a Labour defector), and Your Party (the movement born out of Jeremy Corbyn’s break with Labour).
The fragmentation of the opposition vote remains a concern. In many Lambeth wards, Labour councillors were elected in 2022 on fewer than 900 votes. With the anti-Labour vote now split multiple ways, the question of cooperation — or the lack of it — looms large over the May elections.
Location and Access
The Open Forum will take place at 3Space, International House, 6 Canterbury Crescent, Brixton, SW9 7QD — which also serves as the Shake It Up campaign hub (Monday meetups 6-7 PM). The venue is within walking distance of Brixton Tube and rail stations. Organisers confirm lunch will be provided for attendees.
Event Details at a Glance:
| What: | Shake It Up Open Forum on Housing |
| When: | Saturday 11th April 2026, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Where: | Brixton Project, 3Space, International House, 6 Canterbury Cres, London, SW9 7QD |
| Who: | Residents, housing experts, and all Shake It Up independent candidates including Ruby Bukhari, Harry O’Donoghue, Tara Amfo, Joanne Scott, Neila Baiguzhanova, and Eduardo Salgado |
| Admission: | Free (ticket required via Shake It Up) |
Reporting by SolidarioGB News
Visit Eduardo’s personal site at https://v0-mini-website-with-socials.vercel.app/
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