Labour retain Westminster ward seat in low turnout local poll

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Westminster Labour has retained the seat of Harrow Road in a by-election triggered by the resignation of a councillor elected as an MP at July’s general election.

Regan Hook won the central London ward with 512 votes – more than double that of her closest rival, the Green Paty’s Faaiz Hasan, who received 244 votes.

In third place was Hoz Shafiei from the Workers’ Party – For Britain, For Gaza, with 166 votes and in fourth with 162 votes was the Conservatives’ Jonathan Goff.

Turnout for the September 19 election was 14.6 per cent.

Tim Roca was one of two Westminster councillors successful at the general election, winning the seat of Macclesfield. Jessica Toale was the other, a former West End councillor who was elected for Bournemouth West. Both resigned from the council following their victories.

Ms Toale’s seat was won by Tim Barnes, a former Westminster City Conservative councillor and candidate in the general election, with 627 votes. In second place was Labour’s Fiona Parker with 489.

The results bring Labour to 30 councillors and the Conservatives at 24. Westminster City council is made up of 54 seats.

Ms Hook paid tribute to voters in her first post on X following the election result. She wrote: “Huge thanks to voters in #HarrowRoad ward for electing me as councillor today. I’ll do my very best for you! Bring it on!”

Westminster Conservatives leader councillor Paul Swaddle said the election result saw a “significant swing” against Labour in what he described as a safe seat. He said: “It’s clear residents are already unhappy with the Labour council and Government”.

The Green Party was contacted for comment.

Ms Hook has lived in the Harrow Road ward for 28 years and has a background in marketing and communications, including working for the charity Crimestoppers where she managed campaigns across London covering areas such as fraud and violence against women and girls. She has also held senior marketing roles at BT and the BBC.

Pictured top: Regan Hook (Picture: Labour Party)