Labour is bracing for significant losses in its London strongholds at the upcoming local elections, with the Green Party poised to capitalise on voter discontent. Inner boroughs such as Hackney, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Waltham Forest—long considered Labour bastions—are under threat, according to party insiders. A recent YouGov survey predicted Labour’s vote share could plummet in up to 14 of the 21 councils it currently controls in the capital.
One Labour candidate described the mood as “bleak,” likening the party to a football team “on the cusp of relegation.” Sky-high housing costs and substandard living conditions have dominated voter concerns, driving support towards the Greens under co-leader Zack Polanski. Labour insiders believe at least four councils could fall to the Greens for the first time, including Hackney, where the party has made significant headway.
Concerns also extend to Camden—the home borough of Sir Keir Starmer—as well as Greenwich and Southwark. The Prime Minister has largely avoided campaigning in London, even in his own area, amid fears of a toxic image among voters. “No one knows what Starmer stands for,” a senior London Labour figure said. “We campaigned on a ticket of ‘change.’ But voters feel very little has changed, it’s got worse if anything.”
Labour has focused attacks on the Greens over antisemitism, with several Green candidates suspended or arrested over alleged anti-Jewish social media posts. Communities Secretary Steve Reed accused Polanski of failing to tackle the issue, a claim Polanski dismissed as “desperate.” Meanwhile, Mayor Sadiq Khan admitted the polls “scare” him, urging voters not to treat the elections as a referendum on the national government. He highlighted Labour’s achievements on renters’ rights, workers’ rights, and free childcare.
In Wandsworth and Westminster—two councils Labour won from the Conservatives in 2022—there are fears that left-wing voters switching to the Greens could allow the Tories to regain control. Labour has lost a string of by-elections in Westminster since the general election, and council leader Adam Hug acknowledged the challenges ahead in a letter to constituents.
