London election results reshape capital's political map as Labour loses 459 councillors

Labour lost 459 councillors across London's 32 boroughs in elections held on 7 May 2026, producing one of the most dramatic reshapings of the capital's political map in decades. The party surrendered control of councils it had held for years as the Green Party swept through inner London and Reform UK established its first foothold in the capital.

How the Green Party reshaped inner London

The Greens' most significant result came in Hackney, where the party won 42 of 57 seats, taking the council from Labour's near-total dominance to a Green majority in a single election cycle. Zoë Garbett was elected mayor of Hackney with 47.2% of the vote, more than 11 percentage points ahead of her Labour rival. In Haringey, the Greens came within three seats of winning control, claiming 28 seats and pushing Labour into second place after taking none in 2022. In Waltham Forest, the Greens took control of another formerly secure Labour borough.

Across London, the pattern was consistent: Green gains concentrated in former Labour strongholds in inner and north London, where the party had accumulated large majorities at the 2022 elections. Camden, Greenwich, and Islington all saw the Greens make double-digit seat gains at Labour's expense, though in each case Labour clung to control. You can follow the broader political picture across the capital in our World news section.

Reform UK wins first London council seat

Reform UK secured its first council representation in London after winning seats in multiple boroughs. In Barking and Dagenham, Reform won 9 seats in a borough the party had targeted heavily, though Labour retained a large majority. In Bexley, despite being widely expected to take control of the council, Reform finished third on seats and the Conservatives held the borough. The party's London performance was more modest than in parts of England where Reform took control of entire county councils.

Conservatives and Liberal Democrats gain ground

The Conservative Party increased its number of London councillors overall, with notable advances in Barnet, where the party gained 9 seats to draw level with Labour at 31 each. In Enfield, the Conservatives fell one seat short of a council majority, ending with 31 seats against Labour's 27. The Liberal Democrats also expanded their presence, gaining seats in Brent and Ealing and taking additional ground in Camden. Nine London councils were left in no overall control following the results, a significant increase from 2022 and a reflection of the fragmentation of London's previously two-party-dominated boroughs.

In Barnet, a single Green councillor holds the balance of power between equal numbers of Conservative and Labour councillors at 31 seats each. In Enfield, five Green councillors are positioned as kingmakers between the Conservatives and other groups. The nine councils without overall control include Barnet, Brent, Haringey, and Enfield, where no single party commands a working majority.

London council election results borough by borough

In Ealing, Labour held on with a majority reduced by 13 seats, with the Lib Dems and Greens each gaining five seats. Greenwich Labour retained control despite a loss of 17 seats to a resurgent Green group that won 13 seats from zero. Camden held for Labour but its leader Richard Olszewski lost his seat to the Greens in Holborn and Covent Garden. In Hackney, Labour was reduced to 9 councillors from 50 in 2022. Hammersmith and Fulham held comfortably for Labour with only a 2-seat loss.

In outer London, the picture was different. Bromley remained a safe Conservative hold, with Reform winning only 6 seats despite a significant campaign spend. Bexley stayed Conservative despite being considered a prime Reform target. In Barking and Dagenham, Labour retained a large majority, resisting heavier Reform pressure than many anticipated.

What the London results mean for the capital's councils

The shift toward multi-party councils across London will make local government more complex than it has been under the stable majorities that characterised the 2022 map. Boroughs in no overall control face the challenge of building working relationships between parties with opposing positions on housing, planning, and local spending, at a moment when central government reforms are placing new demands on local authorities. For the Green Party, managing council power in Hackney and Waltham Forest while holding the balance in other boroughs represents a significant test of capacity: many newly elected Green councillors have no prior experience of local government. For Labour, the results signal that the party can no longer count on London as a reliable base of council control, particularly in the inner boroughs where progressive voters have shifted decisively toward the Greens.