Key Points
- Labour retained control of Greenwich Council after the 2026 local election, winning 35 of the 55 seats.
- The Green Party rose from two councillors to 13 and became the new opposition group on the council.
- The Conservatives increased their representation from four councillors to six, while Reform UK won one seat.
- Greenwich Council has remained under Labour control since 1971, and Labour’s majority was reduced after what the party described as a bruising result.
- The final results were declared at around 7pm after counts across 23 wards and 55 seats.
- Labour councillors lost seats in areas including East Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula, Plumstead Common and Charlton Hornfair.
- Greenwich Wire reported that most of Greenwich is now in Green-controlled wards, with only Creekside staying Labour.
- Labour leader Anthony Okereke said the party would review what happened and learn lessons from the result.
Greenwich (South London News) May 9, 2026 – Labour has kept control of Greenwich Council after one of the borough’s most closely watched local election counts in years, but the result marked a sharp reduction in its dominance as the Greens made significant gains across South East London.
How did Labour win Greenwich despite heavy losses?
Labour won 35 of the 55 seats, which was enough to keep overall control because a party needed 28 seats for a majority. Before polling, Labour held 47 councillors, so the party lost 12 seats in a single election. Even with those losses, it remained the largest group on the council and secured a working majority.
The final count took place in Woolwich and included 23 wards. Greenwich Wire reported that over 200 council staff worked on the count at the Woolwich Waves leisure centre. The result confirmed that Labour’s position had weakened, but not enough for another party or coalition to take control.
What gains did the Greens make?
The Greens were the biggest winners of the night, increasing their seat total from two to 13. That made them the new opposition group on Greenwich Council. Greenwich Wire said they took seats in East Greenwich, Greenwich Park and Greenwich Peninsula, meaning even the Cutty Sark and the O2 now sit in Green-controlled wards.
The party also won both Shooters Hill seats and all three seats in Plumstead Common. Greenwich Wire added that the Greens were less than 20 votes away from winning a seat in Abbey Wood. In Charlton Hornfair, former Labour councillor Lakshan Saldin lost his seat to Green candidate Jessica Holland, while Bren Albiston held the second Labour seat there.
Which wards changed hands?
Several seats shifted away from Labour during the count. Greenwich Wire reported losses for Labour councillors including Aidan Smith, who had represented the borough for 14 years, as well as Maisie Richards Cottell, Majid Rahman, Nick Williams and Issy Cooke. These defeats were spread across East Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula and Plumstead Common.
The Conservatives also made targeted gains. They won all three seats in Coldharbour, Mottingham & New Eltham, and all three in Eltham Town & Avery Hill, taking two more seats from Labour. Reform UK won one seat in Eltham Page through Paul Banks, despite wider predictions that the party would do well in the borough.
How did party leaders react?
Labour leader Anthony Okereke said the result was “a bruising day” but insisted the party had won a majority and wanted to deliver on its manifesto. He also said the party would spend the next few weeks trying to understand what happened and where it could have done better. Okereke added that councillors who lost their seats would continue representing their communities even without office.
Green councillor Tamasin Rhymes said the campaign had been hard work but positive, and she described herself as “over the moon” with the result. She also said the election had given the Greens heart to keep fighting in every seat. Conservative leader Matt Hartley said he was “thrilled” to have six councillors and argued the result showed voters wanted proactive councillors to hold Labour to account.
Why does Greenwich matter politically?
Greenwich has been a Labour stronghold since 1971, so the scale of the Green surge stands out even though Labour kept control. The council’s long-standing political pattern means this result is less about a change of administration and more about a significant shift in local balance. Labour still governs, but it now faces a stronger and more visible opposition than before.
The result also reflects wider local election movement across London, where Labour lost ground in several boroughs and the Greens recorded notable advances. That context matters because Greenwich’s election was not an isolated result, but part of a broader political pattern across the capital.
Background of the development
Greenwich Council had been expected to face a tighter contest after Labour entered the election with a very large majority from 2022. In that earlier election, Labour won 52 of the 55 seats, leaving the Conservatives with three seats and the Greens with none, according to reporting from that cycle. By 2026, the political landscape had changed enough for the Greens to become the main challengers in several wards.
The borough’s election count was held at the Woolwich Waves leisure centre and covered 23 wards. The final tally showed Labour on 35 seats, the Greens on 13, the Conservatives on six and Reform UK on one. That outcome preserved Labour control, but it also narrowed the gap between the ruling party and its opponents.
What happens next for residents?
For Greenwich residents, the immediate effect is continuity in council leadership, because Labour will remain in charge of local decisions. However, the stronger Green opposition may lead to more scrutiny of planning, housing, transport and environmental policies in council meetings. The Conservatives and Reform UK will also have a slightly louder presence, though neither has enough seats to shape policy on its own.
The likely short-term impact is that Labour will have to defend more decisions publicly and manage a more competitive council chamber. For voters, that could mean sharper debate and more visible pressure on local services, but not an immediate change in who runs the borough.
