In December 2025 Labour cancelled the 2026 Lambeth Country Show

Sign our petition to save the Lambeth Country Show

For over 40 years, the Lambeth Country Show has been south London’s most loved community event. Maybe like us, you go along every year to see the animal-vegetable competition or listen to the reggae? Or just hanging around drinking cider in the sun?

We love how it brings together local people of all ages, from all backgrounds. It’s a highlight of the summer for so many of our friends and neighbours, as well as helping many people to discover what a wonderful area Brixton and Herne Hill is.

Why did Labour cancel it?

However Labour have now cancelled the Show – saying that they cannot afford it any more.

The exact amount it costs, and where the money goes, is unclear, as always with Lambeth. For instance they are now claiming £1,000,000, compared to £400,000 just a few months ago. We are suspicious that Lambeth have mismanaged the Show, either losing sources of income or failing to control costs. We are, of course, asking detailed questions of the council to check their sums.

Labour tried to do this before, back in 2012, led by current Labour MPs Steve Reed and Florence Eshalomi (then Nosegbe). After a huge local outcry, including pressure from your local Lib Dem councillors, they backed down.

Can it be afforded?

Labour say they can’t afford the cost of the Lambeth Country Show.

But money would be available if it were not for the incredible incompetence of Labour run Lambeth.

They have now wasted £67m on their disastrous Homes for Lambeth scheme. The interest on this money alone would be enough to pay for the Lambeth Country Show forever.

And they wasted £1.6m a year on Phoenix House, a council building left empty for years!

In a council budget of £440m, the cost of the Show is barely 0.1%. We can afford it, with just tiny increases in efficiency.

We can save the Country Show

We can save the Country Show if enough people locally show they care. We saved it in 2012 - and we can save it again.

Please sign our petition, at this link.