Key Points
- Labour secured 32 seats out of 57 on Merton Council, gaining one seat from their previous 31 (or 29 pre-election per some reports), retaining control with a clear majority.
- Liberal Democrats won 19 seats, up from 16 or 17 previously, marking their best performance in the borough but falling short of taking control.
- Conservatives took 4 seats, down from 7, holding ground in Wimbledon Village but losing elsewhere, including local leader Nick McLean in Cannon Hill ward.
- Merton Park independents Edward Foley and Stephen Mercer retained their two seats with 59% of the vote in Merton Park ward.
- Turnout reached 45.15% across 20 wards, with elections held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, and results announced early Friday.
- Greens and Reform UK failed to win any seats.
- Labour has held dominance since 2014, extending control for another four years.
Merton (South London News) May 9, 2026 –Labour has retained control of Merton Council for another four years following the local elections on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The party secured 32 of the 57 seats, a gain of one from their 2022 position of 31, as confirmed by official results announced early Friday.
What Did Labour Achieve in Merton Elections?
Labour’s victory dealt a blow to the Liberal Democrats’ ambitions to capture the south-west London borough. As reported by the Evening Standard, Labour returned 32 councillors across the authority’s 57 seats, extending its majority since first gaining control in 2014.
The official Merton Council announcement stated:
“Tens of thousands of residents went to the polls yesterday to elect councillors to all 57 seats on Merton Council. In the early hours of this morning the final results were announced, leaving the political balance of the council as follows: Labour: 32, Liberal Democrats: 19, Conservatives: 4, Merton Park Ward Independents: 2.”
Turnout stood at 45.15%, higher than the 40.3% in 2022, reflecting strong resident engagement. Pre-election, Labour held 29 seats, with one vacancy, according to SW Londoner coverage.
How Did the Liberal Democrats Perform?
The Liberal Democrats strengthened their position with 19 seats, an increase from 16 going into the election. BBC London reported:
“Labour has won the election in Merton with a majority of three. The Lib Dems had been hoping to take control of the council, but only won 17 to Labour’s 30 seats,”
though official tallies confirm 19 for Lib Dems.
Yahoo News noted: “The Labour Party won the election on 7 May 2026 and retained control of Merton council. The results were: Labour: 32 seats (+1),” highlighting Lib Dem gains to 19 despite the shortfall. An Instagram update from BBC London added:
“The Liberal Democrats have had their best ever performance in Merton to gain two seats, a total of 19.”
Lib Dems swept several wards, targeting Labour’s hold in the area.
Which Wards Did Each Party Win?
Detailed ward results from SW Londoner provide a full breakdown across Merton’s 20 wards.
- Abbey: John Braithwaite (Lib Dem), Klaar Dresselaers (Lib Dem), Barry Smith (Lib Dem).
- Cannon Hill: Asif Ashraf (Lib Dem), Richard Poole (Lib Dem), Robert Mitchell (Lib Dem). This included the defeat of Conservative local leader Nick McLean.
- Colliers Wood: Stuart Neaverson (Labour), Joanna Sieradzinska (Labour), Caroline Cooper-Marbiah (Labour).
- Cricket Green: Michael Butcher (Labour), Usaama Kaweesa (Labour), Gill Manly (Labour).
- Figge’s Marsh: Agatha Mary Akyigyina (Labour), Dan Johnston (Labour), Franca Ofeimu (Labour).
- Graveney: Linda Christine Kirby (Labour), Billy Hayes (Labour), Devina Marylyn Paul (Labour).
- Hillside: Sarah Golby (Lib Dem), Dan Holden (Conservative).
- Lavender Fields: Harry Platts (Labour), Slawek Szczepanski (Labour), Edith MacAuley (Labour).
- Longthornton: Brenda Fraser (Labour), Ross Garrod (Labour), Sonia Phillips (Labour).
- Lower Morden: Dan Hogan (Labour), Sally Kenny (Labour), Daniel Shearer (Labour).
- Merton Park: Edward Foley (Merton Park Independent Residents), Stephen Mercer (Merton Park Independent Residents), securing 59% of the vote.
- Pollards Hill: Joan Palmeta Henry (Labour), Ryan Rodrigues (Labour), Martin Whelton (Labour).
- Ravensbury: Stephen Alambritis (Labour), Val Hoppichler (Labour), Peter McCabe (Labour).
- Raynes Park: Chessie Flack (Lib Dem), Matthew James Willis (Lib Dem), Victoria Jane Wilson (Lib Dem).
- St Helier: Andrew Judge (Labour), Shuile Syeda (Labour), Nedra Daniel (Labour).
- Village: Max Austin (Conservative), Will Orson (Conservative), Jan Comer (Conservative).
- Wandle: Sebastian Budner (Labour), Eleanor Stringer (Labour).
- West Barnes: Hina Bokhari (Lib Dem), Mariam Hakim (Lib Dem), Robert Page (Lib Dem).
- Wimbledon Park: Jil Hall (Lib Dem), Tony Reiss (Lib Dem), Nick Thomas (Lib Dem).
- Wimbledon Town and Dundonald: Anthony John Fairclough (Lib Dem), Samantha MacArthur (Lib Dem), Simon McGrath (Lib Dem).
Merton Council directed residents to their elections results page for complete vote counts per candidate.
What Happened to Conservatives and Others?
Conservatives retained presence in Wimbledon Village ward with Max Austin, Will Orson, and Jan Comer, but lost three seats overall, including Nick McLean in Cannon Hill to Lib Dems. Their total fell to 4 seats.
Merton Park independents held firm, with Stephen Mercer and Edward Foley re-elected. The Greens and Reform UK candidates did not secure any seats, as noted in initial reports.
AOL.com echoed:
“Labour has secured another four years in control of Merton Council, seeing off a challenge from the Liberal Democrats.”
Why Did Labour Hold On?
Boundary changes had reduced seats from 60 to 57 ahead of 2026. Merton Council thanked staff and voters:
“We’d like to thank everyone who used their voice and came out to vote, as well the hundreds of staff that helped to deliver another efficient, safe, free and fair election in Merton.”
Labour’s Leader and Cabinet will be formally appointed at the Annual Council meeting on May 20, 2026. Pre-election, one Labour councillor had been suspended, sitting as independent.
A YouTube live from election night noted:
“In Merton, one of the Lib Dem’s top targets, Labour has retained control.”
Merton Council tweeted the final tally via X: “Final result: With the final result declared, the number of seats for each party is as follows: Labour: 32. Liberal Democrats: 19.”
Background of the Development
Merton Council’s elections occur every four years, with all-out contests across its 20 wards. Labour first took control in 2014 and has maintained it through 2018, 2022, and now 2026, despite boundary reductions from 60 to 57 seats implemented post-2022.
Going into 2026, Labour held 29 seats with one vacancy, Lib Dems 16, Conservatives 7, Merton Park Residents Association 2, and one independent.
The May 7 vote followed national patterns in London’s 32 boroughs, amid broader political shifts. Turnout rose to 45.15% from 40.3% in 2022, indicating heightened interest.
Lib Dems positioned Merton as a key target in their south-west London strategy, building on gains from 17 seats in 2022.
Prediction: How This Can Affect Merton Residents
This development ensures Labour’s continued administration, allowing implementation of ongoing policies without change in leadership.
Residents in Labour strongholds like Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, and Longthornton face stable representation, potentially continuing focus on local services such as housing and transport.
Lib Dem gains in wards like Abbey, Cannon Hill, and Raynes Park introduce stronger opposition scrutiny, which could influence decisions on issues like green spaces and Wimbledon area development. Conservative hold in Village ward maintains voice for those priorities, while independents in Merton Park preserve ward-specific advocacy.
Overall, the 32-19 majority provides Labour decisiveness on budget and planning, but increased Lib Dem presence at 19 seats may prompt cross-party collaboration on resident concerns like cost of living and infrastructure, affecting service delivery timelines and priorities for Merton’s 220,000 residents.
