Key Points
- Wandsworth Council moved to no overall control after the local election on 7 May.
- The Conservatives are the largest single group with 29 seats, one short of a majority.
- Labour holds 28 seats after losing seven from the previous council.
- Independent councillor Malcolm Grimston, who retained his seat with 4,081 votes, has agreed a confidence and supply arrangement in principle with the Conservatives.
- The arrangement is intended to allow the council to function, including passing the annual budget and handling votes of no confidence.
- Labour’s one-term control of the council has ended following the election result.
- The political balance means the Conservatives will lead a minority administration if the arrangement is confirmed.
Wandsworth (South London News) May 20, 2026 – Conservative-led administration is preparing to take charge of Wandsworth Council after the authority moved to no overall control following the local election on 7 May. The Conservatives are now the largest group on the council with 29 seats, while Labour has 28, leaving neither party with a majority and creating the need for an arrangement to keep the council operating.
The shift ends Labour’s one term in control of the authority and opens the way for a minority Conservative administration. The political arithmetic means the Conservatives are one seat short of the 30 needed for a majority, so support from another councillor is essential for key decisions.
How did the council end up with no overall control?
The council moved to no overall control after a closely fought election in which Labour lost its majority. The Conservatives increased their position by seven seats, moving from 22 seats in 2022 to 29 seats, while Labour fell by seven seats from 35 to 28.
This result leaves the council evenly balanced enough that routine governance cannot rely on a single party commanding the chamber alone.
In practical terms, that makes alliances, agreements, or issue-by-issue support central to the way the council will now operate.
Who is Malcolm Grimston and why does his role matter?
Independent councillor Malcolm Grimston, who represents West Hill, has emerged as the key figure in the post-election negotiations.
He retained his seat with 4,081 votes and has agreed in principle to a confidence and supply arrangement with the Conservatives.
That arrangement means he would support the Conservatives on essential votes needed to keep the council functioning, including the annual budget and any vote of no confidence.
In political terms, this gives him the balance of power and allows the Conservatives to govern without an overall majority.
What is a confidence and supply arrangement?
A confidence and supply arrangement is a form of limited support agreement in which one group helps another survive key votes without entering a full coalition. It is commonly used when no party has enough seats to govern alone.
In this case, the Conservatives would rely on Malcolm Grimston’s backing for the votes that matter most to the council’s stability.
That does not necessarily mean full agreement on every issue, but it does create a workable path for the authority to pass budgets and avoid paralysis.
How will the council function now?
The immediate priority for the Conservatives will be to establish a functioning administration and secure enough support for essential business.
The annual budget is one of the most important items, because without it the council cannot properly plan spending and services.
Votes of no confidence are also significant because they can determine whether the administration survives politically.
With no overall control, every major vote becomes more sensitive, and the council will need to manage relations carefully to avoid deadlock.
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What does this mean politically for Labour and the Conservatives?
For Labour, the result marks the loss of a council it had controlled for only one term. The party now faces the challenge of operating as the main opposition while the Conservatives attempt to turn a minority position into an effective administration.
For the Conservatives, the arrangement with an Independent councillor gives them the chance to lead despite not having a majority.
Their position as the largest single group puts them in a stronger negotiating position, but it also means their ability to govern will depend on maintaining support beyond their own seats.
Background of the development
Wandsworth Council has shifted into a new political phase after a set of local election results altered the balance of power.
The Conservatives became the largest single group on the authority with 29 seats, Labour dropped to 28, and the council moved to no overall control on 7 May.
The key development is the agreement in principle between the Conservatives and Independent councillor Malcolm Grimston. Because he can help provide the votes needed for core business, his support gives the Conservatives a route to govern without a majority and helps prevent the council from becoming unworkable.
Prediction
For residents, the most likely effect is a period of careful, issue-by-issue politics rather than clear majority control. Council decisions on budgets, services, and confidence motions are likely to depend on negotiated support, which may make major changes slower but also forces compromise.
For voters, especially those who want stable local administration, the arrangement could reduce uncertainty in the short term. For Labour supporters, it means the party will spend the coming period trying to challenge a Conservative-led minority administration and rebuild support before the next election.
