2026 Waltham Forest London Borough Council election

2026 Waltham Forest London Borough Council election
7 May 2026
All 60 council seats
  First party Second party
 
Party Labour Conservative
Last election 47 seats 13 seats
Map of wards
Council control before election


Labour

Council control after election

TBD

The 2026 Waltham Forest London Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026.[1] All 60 members of Waltham Forest London Borough Council will be elected.[2] The elections will take place alongside local elections in the other London boroughs and elections to local authorities across the United Kingdom.[3]

Background

In 2022, Labour retained control of the council.[4]

Previous council composition

After 2022 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 47 Labour 44
Conservative 13 Conservative 10
Reform 0 Reform 3
Independent 0 Independent 3

Changes 2022–2026:

  • May 2022: Anna Mbachu re-elected as a Labour candidate, but sits as an independent after being expelled in April 2022[5]
  • September 2023: Alistair Strathern (Labour) resigns – by-election held October 2023[6]
  • October 2023: Shumon Ali-Rahman (Labour) wins by-election[7]
  • January 2025: Tom Connor (Labour) suspended from party[8]
  • September 2025: Justin Halabi (Conservative) joins Reform[9]
  • January 2026:
    • Marion Fitzgerald (Conservative) and Tim James (Conservative) join Reform[10]
    • Rhiannon Eglin (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[11]

Wards

Cann Hall (3)

Cathall (2)

Chapel End (3)

Chingford Green (3)

Endlebury (2)

Forest (3)

Grove Green (3)

Hale End & Highams Park South (2)

Hatch Lane & Highams Park North (3)

High Street (3)

Higham Hill (3)

Hoe Street (3)

Larkswood (3)

Lea Bridge (3)

Leyton (3)

Leytonstone (3)

Markhouse (2)

St James (3)

Upper Walthamstow (2)

Valley (3)

William Morris (3)

Wood Street (2)

References

  1. ^ "Local elections in London will test support for Reform UK and Greens". BBC News. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  2. ^ Forest, Waltham (20 August 2025). "Labour reveals list of incumbent candidates ahead of 2026 local elections". Waltham Forest Echo. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Number of councils that have requested delay to local elections revealed - is yours one of them?". Sky News. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Waltham Forest result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ^ Munro, Victoria (13 April 2022). "Waltham Forest Labour gives away seat by expelling own candidate". Waltham Forest Echo. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  6. ^ Mellor, Josh (5 September 2023). "Waltham Forest councillor resigns to fight Dorries' former seat in Mid Beds for Labour". Yellow Advertiser.
  7. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Higham Hill Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. ^ Marcelline, Marco (14 January 2025). "Labour councillor suspended for not supporting cuts to council tax relief". Waltham Forest Echo.
  9. ^ Marcelline, Marco (11 September 2025). "Tories call for by-election after Chingford councillor jumps ship for Reform UK". Waltham Forest Echo. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  10. ^ Marcelline, Marco (14 January 2026). "Two Chingford councillors defect to Reform UK". Waltham Forest Echo. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  11. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Gosport goes Reform". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
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