Tory winner in ward by-election says opposition to Oxford Street ‘pedestrianisation’ was factor in his victory

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

The Conservatives have taken a West End council seat from Labour, with Sadiq Khan’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street among the issues raised on the doorstep.

However, only 1,284 people even bothered to vote.

Tory candidate Tim Barnes, who was formerly a West End councillor and ran in the 2024 general election, said the mayor’s ‘astonishing’ announcement was among the concerns raised by residents, alongside crime and the management of e-bikes. He added the result ‘really feels like it is part of a wider move and change of tide’.

The Tory vote share at Thursday’s by-election was up 8.5 per cent on 2022, while Labour’s dropped more than 10 per cent. On a turnout of just 16.77 per cent, Cllr Barnes won with 627 votes. Labour’s Fiona Parker came second, with 489.

The by-election was called after former councillor Jessica Toale resigned following her success in July’s general election, when she became the new Labour MP for Bournemouth West.

Cllr Barnes’ election means he joins two Labour councillors, Paul Fisher and Patrick Lilley, representing the West End.

The ward has been in the spotlight over the past few days after Mayor Khan earlier this week revealed fresh plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street. The by-election meant discussions of the Mayor’s announcement at Wednesday’s full council meeting were largely prohibited.

Following the result, Cllr Barnes said: “We have seen a big swing to the Conservatives in this by-election, and it really feels like it is part of a wider move and change of tide. Local people told us they were unhappy with Labour’s letting them down in Westminster and across London under the Mayor.

“Failings on crime, management of e-bikes and the astonishing recent announcement on Oxford Street pedestrianisation that rides roughshod over local democracy were all factors that were mentioned to us on the doorstep.

“I will now be picking these up and working to get them resolved when the current Labour councillors seem unwilling to criticise their party colleagues even when they know things are not working.”

Ms Parker posted on X: “I’ve been proud to be the #Labour candidate in the West End by-election Disappointed to lose but we can hold up our heads for running a positive and decent campaign against relentless negativity from the Tories.”

Pictured top: Tim Barnes (Picture: Tim Barnes)