Westminster election result

Friday 8 May 2026: Westminster City Council has returned to Conservative control under Cllr Paul Swaddle, following a closely fought election shaped by local issues, ward-level contests and strong turnout in key areas. The Conservatives won 32 seats to Labour’s 22, giving them a working majority of five and overall control of the council for the next four years. 

What you need to know: 

• The Conservatives now hold overall control of Westminster City Council for the next four years.
• The HOLBA area is now predominantly represented by Conservative councillors.
• Labour performed better than some forecasts suggested, but lost control of the council.
• No third-party councillors were elected, although Green vote growth was influential in several close contests. 
   

Why does this matter for the West End? 

Westminster City Council makes decisions that directly affect West End businesses, including licensing and trading, street operations, public realm investment and planning policy. These areas influence everything from the evening economy and visitor experience to access, movement and long-term investment confidence. 

The council will also continue work on its new Local Plan, which may shape planning frameworks, supplementary guidance and area designations. For businesses, the key issue is not just who governs, but how quickly the new administration can provide clarity on priorities that affect growth and day-to-day operations. 

What can you do next? 

1. Join our Election Debrief on Monday 11 May, where our Chief Executive, Ros Morgan, will be joined by political experts to take a deep dive into the results and what they mean for the future of the West End.  

 

2. Join the next event in our Networking Series: What’s next for Westminster on Thursday 4 June, alongside other businesses as we welcome the newly elected leader.

 

3. Speak with our Head of Public Affairs, Antonia Stratford, if you have any questions regarding your business and the new administration.    

 

Further analysis of the Westminster results  

The election was characterised by highly localised campaigns, strong incumbency effects, increased turnout and the growing influence of third parties, particularly the Greens, in central wards. While Westminster remains firmly a two-party authority, the impact of Green candidates was felt across several marginal contests. 

The Conservatives secured decisive gains in Bayswater and Hyde Park, alongside clean sweeps in the West End and Little Venice. They also regained the seats previously lost to Reform defectors in Lancaster Gate and Abbey Road, while comfortably retaining their traditional strongholds in St James’s, Knightsbridge & Belgravia, Regent’s Park, Marylebone and Pimlico North. 

The result provides a strong political mandate for Cllr Paul Swaddle’s leadership and positions Westminster once again as the Conservative Party’s flagship local authority in London. 

Labour performs better than expected but loses control 

Despite challenging national conditions, Labour’s vote proved more resilient than anticipated. The party retained all three seats in Pimlico South, held representation in Lancaster Gate, Bayswater and Hyde Park, and resisted Green pressure in Church Street, Westbourne, Harrow Road and Queen’s Park. 

However, Labour ultimately lost control due to critical seat losses in Bayswater, Hyde Park, Little Venice and the West End. The election also saw the defeat of senior Labour figures, including Cabinet Members Max Sullivan and Sara Hassan. 

The results suggest Labour’s 2022 coalition in Westminster weakened in more mixed central wards, particularly where Green votes fragmented the progressive vote. 

Third-party impact 

Whilst no third-party candidates were elected, their impact was still notable across Westminster. Green candidates performed strongly in more diverse wards and appear to have materially impacted Labour in several marginal contests, most notably in the West End. 

Reform UK fielded full slates in many wards but, despite strong national momentum, failed to establish a significant electoral foothold in Westminster.  

Overall, Westminster remains a two-party borough, though the role of third-party vote splitting proved electorally significant.