Hammersmith and Fulham election: Labour safely holds west London borough

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

The Labour Party has easily won Hammersmith and Fulham council again – and increased its power.

The Conservatives lost one seat, while the Labour party now has 40 seats. The Conservatives were unable to improve on their 2018 result after a muted campaign.

Across the borough, a total of 146 candidates battled it out for 50 seats across 21 wards. Labour increased the number of seats it has from 35 to 40.

The Conservatives had put forward candidates in every seat, while there were also 36 Liberal Democrat candidates, eight Green candidates, one Independent and one Social Democrat standing for office.

Labour councillors looked relaxed and quietly confident on the night, as ward after ward was revealed to be in their favour.

The Conservatives secured 10 seats and were able to keep Fulham Town, Parson’s Green and Walham, Shepherd’s Bush Green, and Munster wards, but the rest of the borough remained firmly red.

Voters backed the Labour-run council to fix Hammersmith Bridge and promises to continue to protect Charing Cross Hospital.

The Labour Party also promised to scrap controversial parking fees introduced at the height of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives had promised to run services better than the Labour Party and pointed out the council was dubbed the worst authority in England for damp and mouldy homes.

Cycle lanes in the borough have also been controversial.

Control of Hammersmith and Fulham council has alternated between Labour and the Conservatives since the first local elections in the borough in 1964, but the Labour Party has held it since 2014.

Pictured top: Hammersmith Bridge