Local elections 2018 UK: The key London council battlegrounds to watch

Chloe Chaplain3 May 2018
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Thousands of voters head for the polling station today to vote in the local elections.

There are 4,370 seats up for grabs across 150 councils - across all 32 London boroughs.

As things stand, Labour holds overall control of 20 out of 32 boroughs in the capital.

But there are predictions that they could seize key seats from the Tories - or come close.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are trying to win back the local authorities of their former stomping grounds whilst holding onto their only council in Sutton.

Vote: Theresa May faces her biggest electoral test since last year's general election
PA

So where are the key battlegrounds in London?

Barnet

The north London borough is a former Tory stronghold, but the party recently lost its majority after councillor Sury Khatri stepped down after eight years.

After the 2014 election, the Tories had a majority of 32 seats to Labour’s 30 (the Lib Dems had one) and, following Mr Khatri’s resignation after being deselected by his party, that has been thrown into disarray.

Barnet - in brief

Held by Tories since 1964 - minus a period of no overall control from 1994 to 2002

Current seats:Tory, 31, Labour, 30, Ind, 1, Lib Dem, 1

In addition Labour candidates have used frustration over the council’s outsourcing of services – gaining it the nickname the ‘easy council’ – to appeal to voters wanting to protect jobs and improve child services.

The area is, however, home to a huge proportion of London’s Jewish community who may be influenced by the anti-Semitism row within the Labour party.

Wandsworth

Another Tory stomping ground – favoured by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and held by the party for 40 years.

Wandsworth - in brief

Held by Tories since 1978

Current seats: Tory, 39, Labour, 19, Ind, 1, Renew, 1

Many residents who enjoy efficient council services and low tax rates may have become disenchanted with the Government following the Brexit referendum, in which most of them voted to remain.

In the borough, Tory candidates are canvassing on local issues, such as bins, clean streets and no council tax hikes, in an attempt to detract from discontent over national policies.

It would be a huge victory for the Labour party if it managed to prize the borough from its opponent’s hands. Labour would need big swings to take back control and an increase in Labour councillors is a more likely outcome.

An unknown factor in Wandsworth will be the impact of new anti-Brexit party Renew, which is attempting to woo the Europhile voters.

Some, however, have pointed to Labour’s win of the Battersea parliamentary seat in last year’s election as an inkling of what could be to come.

Westminster City

Westminster has been Tory-run since it was created and the Labour party are the self-declared “underdogs” of the borough.

But the fact that there is even mention of a Labour success in the area is a sign of how potentially devastating the London election results could be for the Tories.

Westminster - in brief

Held by Tories since it was created in 1963

Current seats: Tory, 45, Labour, 15

In the 2014 borough election Tories won a 44-16 victory against Labour but the latter made some gains outside of its traditional strongholds and during the 2016 election for London Mayor it closed the gap in more wards.

Following this, there was the Brexit vote and a general election last year, which saw Labour’s Karen Buck boost her majority in Westminster North, while Conservative Mark Field’s majority in Cities of London and Westminster slumped.

The Labour party would, again, need to win huge numbers of votes but is pushing hard on the issues of social housing and the number of EU migrants living in the borough.

Kensington and Chelsea

K&C is another, like Westminster, that would normally be an easy Tory success.

Kensington and Chelsea - in brief

Held by Tories since 1964

Current seats: Tory, 37, Labour, 11, Lib Dem, 2

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, more than a third of the party’s councillors are standing down – some of whom were in charge when the tragedy happened.

This clearly weakens the Tory party in an area which already showed signs of become more Labour-minded following the party’s success in the general election.

Others argue the mass resignation could be a chance for the Tories to wipe the slate clean and point out that Labour would need a huge swing to win a majority.

Sutton

The only Lib Dem borough – Sutton – is one that the Tories have their eye on, particularly amid public outcry over bin collections and refuse services.

Sutton - in brief

Held by Lib Dems since 1986

Current seats: Lib Dems, 43, Tory, 8, Ind, 2

The council has been Liberal controlled since 1986 and is still dominated by the party, which has 43 councillors compared to eight Tories and two independents.

But the Tories came close to seizing the Parliamentary seat of Carshalton and Wallington last year. This, combined with the party’s victory over former Lib Dem minister Paul Burstow in for Sutton and Cheam in 2015 has been a cause for optimism among the Tories.

Richmond and Kingston councils

Richmond will be another interesting vote this year after the Lib Dems, who once saw the borough as its flagship council, lost control in 2010.

In the general election, Tory Zac Goldsmith won back his seat off the party by just 45 votes.

The party will also be seeking to regain control of Kingston council from the Tories and have been encouraging EU nationals – who could not vote in the referendum – to vote on Thursday.

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