It was a “knife-edge” result in Westminster
The Conservatives have taken back control of Westminster Council. A “knife-edge” result leaves the Tories with 32 seats on the council, while Labour has 22.
There are no councillors from any other parties. No independent candidates were elected either.
Westminster was on the most high profile wards holding local elections yesterday. It has historically been a Tory strong-hold, before changing to Labour control in 2022. Experts predicted that the Conservatives would take back to council.
Conservative Westminster Group Leader, Paul Swaddle, described the result as “fantastic.” He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had been “hopeful” walking into the count tonight.
“Neither Greens nor Reform made any inroads, and both of them threw quite a lot at it. So as far as that’s concerned, here in Westminster, I’m very pleased with the result,” he said.
A Cabinet Member for Enforcement will be appointed tomorrow, he said. Cllr Swaddle added that he will be setting up a legal fund to challenge the Mayor on Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation.
The Labour Party is the largest opposition group on the council. No representatives were available to give a comment following the loss this morning (May 8).
Prior to the election, there were 28 Labour Councillors, 24 Conservative Councillors and two Reform councillors on the council.
See the full results below:
Labour, Conservatives, Reform and the Greens all stood 54 candidates across the 18 wards, while the Liberal Democrats fielded 45 nominees. One independent and one Workers Party candidate also ran.
Reform Councillor Alan Mendoza lost his seat. He represented the Abbey Road Ward as a Conservative Councillor, before defecting in November 2025. Former Council leader Adam Hug held onto his seat in Westbourne.
The average turnout in Westminster was 36 percent – an increase from 31.9 percent in 2022. A total of 46, 962 ballot papers, excluding for Queen’s Park Community Council, were verified.
Got a story? Please get in touch at [email protected]
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
