South London Press reported that Cllr Leo Pollak (Labour, South Bermondsey), who was responsible for Southwark Council’s £2bn housebuilding programme, had deliberately used an anonymous Twitter account, @SouthwarkYIMBY, to bully residents who were speaking out against Labour’s controversial plans to build ‘in-fill’ housing on their estates. Through the account, Cllr Pollak had called residents’ campaigns “pathetic”. 

Whether or not you support the plans for these homes in Southwark, it is not right for an elected councillor to use an anonymous account to attack local residents who are raising their concerns with his actions. 

Whilst I welcome that Cllr Pollak has stepped down from his paid Cabinet position, I believe that he has shown clear disrespect for Southwark residents and that he is not fit to hold public office. 

As a South Bermondsey resident on the Rennie Estate, I am asking that Cllr Leo Pollak stands down as a councillor as soon as possible.