Patrons

LHG’s Patrons help to support our work. They may help to facilitate events, particularly in the Houses of Parliament, or chair events, or help us to connect with other people.

They are mainly drawn from people with a political background, but may also be representative of national government, devolved, or local government.

Rachel Blake

Rachel Blake is the Labour Member of Parliament for Cities of London and Westminster. Prior to becoming an MP, she represented Bow East on the Tower Hamlets London Borough Council from 2014 and 2024. She is committed to supporting public services, improving housing conditions, and addressing local injustices. She was previously the vice chair of Labour Housing Group.

Roberta Blackman-Woods

Roberta Blackman-Woods was the Member of Parliament for the City of Durham between 2005 and 2019.

Roberta was Shadow Minister for Planning and Local Government, having previously been a Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, International Development, and for Business Innovation and Skills.

She was also heavily involved in the Lyons Commission setting out Labour’s Housing and Planning policies for the 2015 manifesto and has recently launched a Planning Commission to develop a new planning policy for Labour for the next election.

Before entering Parliament, Roberta was an academic having been Dean of Social Sciences and Labour studies at Ruskin College, Oxford; and as Dean and Professor of Social Policy at the University of Northumbria. She was also a councillor in Newcastle and Oxford.

Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis is the Labour Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North. Prior to being elected as an MP, Chris worked in polling, he was the Head of Political Polling at Opinium and worked as a Political Research Manager at YouGov. He is the Co-Chair of the Labour Growth Group, a member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee and a leading member of the YIMBY movement.

Richard Parker

Richard Parker is the Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority. Elected in 2024, Richard is focused on delivering his four key priorities: jobs, homes, growth and journeys for everyone.

A passionate advocate for devolution, Richard is committed to empowering communities and improving opportunity, fairness, and inclusion across the West Midlands.

Shama Tatler

Shama Tatler is Head of the Labour Group at the Local Government Association (LGA) and a serving councillor for Kingsbury Ward in Brent. She is a former Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Growth, where she led on major development, housing and planning initiatives that helped transform Brent’s built environment. Shama also serves as Vice Chair of the London Labour Regional Board.