Ed Davey Backs Lib Dem Gains in London Kingston 2026

Key Points

• Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Kingston and Surbiton, expressed confidence in increasing Lib Dem councillors across London at the local elections on 7 May.
• Lib Dems currently control three councils: Kingston, Richmond, and Sutton, all in south-west London strongholds.
• At the 2022 local elections, Lib Dems won around 180 seats out of 1,800 in London; Conservatives took around 400, Labour over 1,100.
• Sir Ed highlighted potential gains in Merton (from Labour), Southwark, Lambeth, Brent, Ealing, Camden, and Haringey, noting Labour vote collapse in some areas.
• Party campaigns on local issues like potholes, road stakes, and rubbish; candidates are described as “local champions who will listen to their communities and get things done”.
• Sir Ed visited a new building development in Blackfriars on Friday, 10 April, during campaigning.
• He dismissed irrelevance claims by noting Lib Dems run councils, unlike Reform or Greens.
• Historical note: Lib Dems ran Islington and Southwark in the early 2000s.

Kingston upon Thames (South London News) April 15, 2026 –

Will Lib Dems increase their number of councillors across London in the 7 May local elections?

Kingston and Surbiton MP and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated he is “feeling confident” about his party’s prospects of gaining more councillors in London at the upcoming local elections on 7 May. As reported by BBC London’s political correspondent Helen Catt in an article published on the BBC News website, Sir Ed told BBC London:

“We’re proud that we run Kingston, Richmond and Sutton, we’re proud that we’re on the march in places like Merton, but I expect us to do very well here in Southwark and in Lambeth and other places across the capital.”

Sir Ed made these comments during a campaign visit to a new building development in Blackfriars on Friday, 10 April. He described Lib Dem candidates as

“local champions who will listen to their communities and get things done,”

, according to the same BBC report.

The Liberal Democrats currently hold control of three London councils: Richmond, Kingston, and Sutton. Sir Ed serves as the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, one of these areas. These councils represent the party’s traditional strongholds in the south-west of the capital.

Which London councils do the Lib Dems currently control?

In the 2022 local elections, the last full cycle across London boroughs, the Liberal Democrats secured around 180 seats out of approximately 1,800 available, as detailed in the BBC coverage. This compared to the Conservatives with around 400 seats and Labour with more than 1,100. The party has historical precedents beyond its current base; in the early 2000s, it ran Islington and Southwark councils.

Is Sir Ed Davey targeting gains beyond south-west London?

Sir Ed addressed questions on whether the party needs to expand its influence from the south-west to remain “relevant.” As quoted in the BBC article by Helen Catt, he responded:

“We’re already relevant because we’re running councils – Reform and the Greens aren’t.”

He emphasised a campaign focused on community issues to appeal to London voters.

What local issues are Lib Dems campaigning on in London?

Sir Ed outlined specific concerns raised by communities. He said:

“It may be that the community is really worried about potholes and the state of the roads and all the rubbish.”

He noted variation across boroughs, adding: “And of course, issues vary across London. In my borough, the Royal Borough of Kingston, we’ve been running it really well, and we’re getting a great response on the doorstep as we are in places like Richmond and Sutton.”

The MP highlighted potential advances in other areas.

“Interestingly, in places like Merton, we think we could even take that off Labour,”

he stated. He pointed to shifts elsewhere:

“Here in Southwark we’re seeing the Labour vote collapse – in Lambeth too. We’re very active in places like Brent, Ealing, Camden and Haringey.”

This coverage draws directly from the BBC London article, which provides the primary account of Sir Ed’s statements during the Blackfriars visit. No additional statements from other media sources were available in the reporting reviewed, ensuring all details remain attributed to Helen Catt of BBC News.

The 7 May elections cover various London boroughs, with all 32 councils plus the City of London up for some or all seats, depending on the cycle. Kingston, Richmond, and Sutton face elections this year, alongside others like Merton, Southwark, Lambeth, Brent, Ealing, Camden, and Haringey, aligning with Sir Ed’s targeted areas.

Lib Dem performance in 2022 showed resilience in their core areas amid Labour’s dominance citywide. Kingston Council remained under no overall control but with Lib Dems as the largest party; Richmond and Sutton stayed Lib Dem-led. Merton’s council is Labour-controlled, making it a noted target.

Sir Ed’s visit to Blackfriars, in Southwark, underscores the party’s activity in a borough not currently under its control. The new building development served as a backdrop for discussing local priorities, tying into broader themes of community responsiveness.

The party’s strategy emphasises doorstep feedback and council-running credentials. Sir Ed’s comments position Lib Dems as pragmatic operators on everyday fixes, contrasting with national opposition roles.

London’s political landscape features multi-party contests, with Greens and independents also active, though Sir Ed distinguished Lib Dems by their governing record.

Voter turnout and issue salience, such as infrastructure maintenance, could influence outcomes. Potholes and waste management recur as universal local gripes across boroughs.

Sir Ed’s confidence reflects internal polling or canvassing data, though specifics were not disclosed in the BBC interview.

The elections occur amid national focus on the Liberal Democrats’ opposition status, with Sir Ed’s leadership prominent since 2020.

Background of the Development

The Liberal Democrats’ current position in London stems from consistent performance in south-west boroughs. They gained control of Richmond in 2018, Kingston has seen Lib Dem influence since the 2000s, with periods of leadership, and Sutton has been Lib Dem-led since 2014. The 2022 elections maintained these holds despite Labour’s sweep elsewhere. Historical control of Islington (until 2000) and Southwark (early 2000s) shows past inner-London presence. Sir Ed Davey has represented Kingston and Surbiton since 2017, regaining the seat in 2024. The 7 May 2026 elections follow the four-year cycle, covering 14 full councils, including the mentioned targets.

Prediction for London Voters

This development positions Liberal Democrats to potentially secure more seats for voters seeking alternatives to Labour and Conservative dominance. In targeted boroughs like Merton, Southwark, and Lambeth, gains could provide opposition voices on local services such as road repairs and waste collection, areas Sir Ed identified as key concerns. Residents in Brent, Ealing, Camden, and Haringey may see increased Lib Dem representation, offering scrutiny of the ruling parties. For Kingston, Richmond, and Sutton voters, sustained control ensures continuity in community-focused governance. Overall, expanded Lib Dem councillors could lead to more balanced decision-making on borough issues, giving voters additional options at a local level without shifting national dynamics.