The leader of Harrow Council welcomed suggestions on how the civic centre could be used to support certain causes, after it was lit up to honour the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Cllr Graham Henson said it was “right” that the council had recognised the BLM campaign – and the death of George Floyd – by turning the civic centre purple last week.

This was followed by green lights being shone across the building to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the tragedy at Grenfell.

“These small symbolic events that cost the council very little are very important to our residents,” he said.

“They were national incidents that have hit our communities hard and I think we were right to light up the civic centre for George Floyd and for Grenfell.”

He added that the council has supported several causes, such as those valued by the LGBT community, by raising flags outside or hosting events at the civic centre.

And he urged his fellow councillors, as well as Harrow residents, to get in touch if there are any other campaigns it can show solidarity with.

It came after Cllr Marilyn Ashton, deputy leader of Harrow Conservatives, suggested there should be collaboration on how the lights can be used in the future.

She stressed that she was fully supportive of the commemoration of the BLM movement and the victims of Grenfell and agreed it was right to acknowledge them.

And she suggested working with the administration on future projects, including the possible recognition of international campaigns, such as those against the persecution of the Uighur community in China or the victims of the North Korean regime.