2026 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council election

Main article: Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council elections
2026 Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
All 50 seats to Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  Blank Blank
Leader Stephen Cowan Jose Afonso
Party Labour Conservative
Last election 40 seats, 57.1% 10 seats, 29.1%
Current seats 37[a][1] 10
  Blank Blank
Leader Trey Campbell-Simon
Party Green Independent
Last election 0 seats, 3.0% 0 seats, 0.2%
Current seats 2 1
Incumbent Leader

Stephen Cowan
Labour



The 2026 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026, as part of the 2026 United Kingdom local elections. All 50 members of Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council will be elected. The election will take place alongside local elections in the other London boroughs.[2][3]

Background

History

Result of the 2022 election

The thirty-two London boroughs were established in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. They are the principal authorities in Greater London and have responsibilities including education, housing, planning, highways, social services, libraries, recreation, waste, environmental health and revenue collection. Some of the powers are shared with the Greater London Authority, which also manages passenger transport, police and fire.[4]

Since its formation, Hammersmith and Fulham has been under Labour control, Conservative control or no overall control. The council has had a Labour majority since the 2014 election. In the most recent election in 2022, Labour extended their majority to 40 seats with 57.1% of the vote, while the Conservatives won 10 seats with 29.1% of the vote. The incumbent leader of the council is the Labour councillor Stephen Cowan, who has held that position since 2014.

Electoral process

Hammersmith and Fulham, like other London borough councils, elects all of its councillors at once every four years. The previous election took place in 2018. The election took place by multi-member first-past-the-post voting, with each ward being represented by two or three councillors. Electors had as many votes as there are councillors to be elected in their ward, with the top two or three being elected.

All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in London aged 18 or over were entitled to vote in the election. People who lived at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, were entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities.[5] Voting in-person at polling stations took place from 7:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters were able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.[5]

Previous council composition

After 2022 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 40 Labour 36
Conservative 10 Conservative 10
Green 2
Independent 1
Vacant 1

Changes 2022–2026:

  • July 2023: David Morton (Labour) suspended from party[6]
  • January 2025: Emma Apthorp (Labour) and Ben Coleman (Labour) resign – by-elections held February 2025[7]
  • February 2025: Callum Nimmo (Labour) and Lydia Paynter (Labour) win by-elections[8][9]
  • May 2025: Andrew Dinsmore (Conservative) resigns – by-election held July 2025[10]
  • July 2025:
    • Liam Downer-Sanderson (Conservative) wins by-election[11]
    • Trey Campbell-Simon (Labour) and Liz Collins (Labour) join Greens[12]
  • November 2025: Patricia Quigley (Labour) resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election[13]

References

  1. ^ Includes the vacant seat in Hammersmith Broadway last held by Labour.
  1. ^ "Hammersmith and Fulham Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 14 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  2. ^ Coughlan, Joe (30 April 2025). "London local elections, why they aren't in 2025 and when the next ones will be". My London. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Local authority, combined authority, and county combined authority election cycles in England". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  4. ^ "The essential guide to London local government | London Councils". www.londoncouncils.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "How the elections work | London Councils". www.londoncouncils.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  6. ^ Zorzut, Adrian (28 July 2023). "London Labour councillor quits party days after suspension over 'racist tweets'". My London. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  7. ^ Lynch, Ben (14 January 2025). "Chelsea and Fulham MP Steps Down from Council". FulhamSW6.com. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Hammersmith Broadway Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Lillie Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  10. ^ Lynch, Ben (19 May 2025). "Tory councillor steps down after becoming a dad with by-election planned". My London. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Fulham Town Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  12. ^ Lynch, Ben (22 July 2025). "Two Labour councillors defect to Greens over 'toxic culture' in party". My London. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  13. ^ Lynch, Ben (3 December 2025). "Former Mayor Stands Down as Councillor". Hammersmithtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
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