Labour Falls Over 350 Seats in London as Minor Parties Reach Record Share

TL;DR: Labour shed over 350 London council seats; minor parties secured a record 39.3% of council votes, reshaping the capital’s political map.

London’s local elections have produced the most fragmented council landscape since the system began in 1964. Voters turned away from the two dominant parties, giving minor parties a combined share of 39.3% of seats – more than double the 14.1% achieved in 2022.

Labour’s defeat was stark. The party lost more than 350 seats, dropping its share of council seats to 38.3%, the lowest since 2006. It now controls only nine of the 32 borough councils, down from 21 a year earlier. Despite the loss, Labour still holds the most councillors in the capital, with 695 seats, and retained 67% of the seats it defended – a far higher defence rate than the 30% achieved outside London.

The Greens emerged as the biggest beneficiary, adding 248 seats to reach a total of 297 across London. Their surge gave them control of councils in Hackney, Lewisham and Waltham Forest for the first time in the party’s history. Overall, the Greens won 16.3% of the London seats they contested, far above their 10% share nationwide.

The Liberal Democrats captured 13.4% of the capital’s seats, while Reform UK managed only 4.3% despite fielding candidates in many boroughs. Reform’s success rate in London was a mere 5%, compared with 43% across the rest of England, limiting it to 79 seats in the capital.

The Conservatives held steady, winning 22.4% of seats – a slight rise from 2022 – and increased their total councillors in London by 6%, remaining the second‑largest party with 407 seats.

The election also set a record for councils with no overall control; more boroughs ended without a clear majority than ever before. This reflects a voter base that spread its support across a broader spectrum of parties, reducing the dominance of Labour and the Conservatives.

What it means: London’s council chambers will now host a more diverse set of voices, forcing the major parties to negotiate with Greens, Lib Dems and others on local policy. Watch how coalition‑building shapes service delivery and whether Labour can halt its decline in the capital ahead of the next national election.