St George's Ward

Cllr Graham Neale

Graham has been a council tenant in Elephant and Castle since the 1980s. He’s seen the area change first-hand and understands what those changes mean for the people who live here. Living in the heart of Southwark for decades has given him a real understanding of our diverse community that make this part of London special.

He campaigns to make sure regeneration works for local people, not just big developers. In 2023, he exposed Southwark Labour’s “Golden Goodbyes” and stopped those hand-outs.

During the Covid pandemic, Graham completed a Master’s degree at Goldsmiths, University of London, focusing his research on how the community responded to the demolition of the Heygate Estate. He has lectured at London South Bank University and worked in other colleges across London, bringing together academic knowledge and real-life local experience.

Graham is also a strong environmental campaigner, working with residents to protect and improve green spaces for nature and wildlife in the middle of the city.

He regularly attends local police meetings and keeps in touch with residents through the many WhatsApp groups across the ward, making sure he’s always available to stand up for people living on the estates and streets of St George’s Ward.

Contact graham.neale@southwark.gov.uk

Lina Maria Usma

Lina is originally from Colombia and has lived in the UK since 1996. She runs Extra International, London’s largest newspaper for the Spanish-speaking Latin American community, giving her a strong track record of standing up for local voices.

Lina previously stood for the Green Party in 2022, but is now committed to the Liberal Democrats and our positive vision for Southwark. She wants to build on Maria’s work championing the Latin American community, while tackling the big issues facing St George’s – housing, crime and the rising cost of living.

Lina has long campaigned to protect local businesses in Elephant and Castle and to improve access to services, including translation, GP access and housing support. She is standing to be a strong, practical voice for residents across the ward.
 

Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall

Maria is retiring from Southwark Council in May 2026.  

Maria has lived in Southwark since 1984 and has been a Liberal Democrat Councillor since 2014.

She speaks fluent English, Spanish and French and has run small companies in the borough, including an art gallery off Borough High Street. She has always been an active member of her community, involved in Neighbourhood Watch and St George’s Cathedral.
As a pensioner, she strongly supports older people at the council and with our local police team to tackle concerns about crime. She has also set up a charity to support domestic violence survivors.

She is originally from Ecuador and is proud to have supported the Latin American community at the Elephant and Castle, fighting to ensure our vibrant existing businesses are protected and celebrated.

Contact Maria: Maria.Linforthhall@southwark.gov.uk