Greens Win First London Councils as Reform UK Takes Havering

Context London’s 32 boroughs have long been dominated by Labour, which ran 21 councils before Thursday’s elections. The results redraw the capital’s partisan landscape, introducing Green mayors and a Reform UK council for the first time.

Key Facts - Zoë Garbett became London’s first directly elected Green mayor after winning Hackney, a former Labour stronghold. - The Green Party seized control of Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Hackney councils, marking its inaugural council victories in the city. - Former Labour councillor Liam Shrivastava was appointed Green mayor of Lewisham hours after Garbett’s win. - Reform UK captured Havering, prompting party leader Nigel Farage to declare the borough “under new management.” - The Conservatives reclaimed Westminster and became the largest party in Wandsworth, though they fell short of a majority. - Labour retained Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow, but lost mayoralties and councils across inner London, including Hackney, Lewisham, Haringey, Brent and Newham. - London mayor Sadiq Khan called the outcome “bitterly disappointing” and blamed the national Labour government for unmet promises.

What It Means The Green surge signals a growing appetite for environmental and progressive policies among London voters, challenging Labour’s traditional base. Reform UK’s breakthrough in Havering introduces a right‑wing alternative to the two‑party norm, suggesting voter fatigue with established parties. Both shifts force Labour and the Conservatives to reassess strategies ahead of the next local cycle and the 2027 general election. Watch how the new Green administrations perform on housing, transport and climate targets, and whether Reform UK can expand beyond Havering.