The Conservatives mounted a comeback in two of London’s most prized boroughs last night, seizing back control of Wandsworth and Westminster in a major lift for Kemi Badenoch.
The two councils, long regarded as the “jewels in the crown” of Tory local government, had fallen to Labour in 2022. But voters have now swung back behind the Conservatives in a result party figures are hailing as a sign of renewed confidence in Tory leadership.
In Wandsworth, famously known as Margaret Thatcher’s favourite council, the Conservatives edged ahead with 29 seats, leaving Labour trailing by just one councillor in an intensely fought contest. The party may also be able to count on the support of independent councillor Malcolm Grimston, a former Conservative who now holds the balance of power.
The result marks a remarkable turnaround for the Conservatives after Labour captured Wandsworth for the first time in more than 40 years in 2022. The borough had been under Tory control continuously since 1978 and earned a national reputation for low council tax, efficient services and tight control of spending.
Former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood welcomed the result, saying it showed voters still backed Conservative principles of lower taxes and value for money.
“Conservative Wandsworth council for many years delivered good core services with lower council tax by offering value for money and stopping waste,” he said.
“Good the council is back under Conservative control.”
The Conservatives also made major gains in Westminster, securing the seven extra wards needed to become the largest party in the borough, which includes the wealthy West End and some of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.
Westminster had been controlled by the Conservatives since the council was created in 1965 before Labour took power for the first time in 2022, winning 31 seats against the Conservatives’ 22.
Senior Tory figures quickly celebrated the twin victories as evidence that middle-class London voters are returning to the party under Badenoch’s leadership.
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith described the results as “marquee wins” for the Conservatives.
“Wandsworth and Westminster results are marquee ‘wins’ for Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives,” he posted on X.
“Aspirational families are well and truly ‘done’ with Labour and want a credible and honest alternative.”
A Conservative spokesman said the victories demonstrated the party was rebuilding support in the capital after Labour’s dominance at the last General Election.
“We are delighted the Conservatives have taken control of Westminster council. Labour are set to have a terrible night in London, an area they swept in the last general election,” the spokesman said.
“Under Kemi Badenoch the Conservatives are coming back in London. This victory is a clear sign of the progress the Conservatives are making under new leadership.
“This is also testament to the hard work of Conservative councillors and activists in Westminster. We are confident they will show that only the Conservatives are serious about delivering better services for lower taxes.”
Despite the celebrations in London, it remained a difficult night nationally for the Conservatives, who lost Newcastle-under-Lyme to Reform UK along with hundreds of seats elsewhere across the country.
Elsewhere in the capital, the Liberal Democrats tightened their grip on Richmond upon Thames, winning every seat in the borough. In Sutton, the Conservatives lost all 20 councillors as the Lib Dems swept to a commanding majority.
Labour, meanwhile, retained control of Ealing, Merton and Hammersmith and Fulham.
But for Conservative activists, reclaiming Wandsworth and Westminster, two boroughs seen for decades as flagship examples of Tory local government, delivered a badly needed morale boost and a powerful sign that the party may once again be reconnecting with London voters.
