STORY
Labour has lost control of Westminster City Council to the Conservatives, but the party will point to a wider London picture in which it remains a dominant force across much of the capital. The Conservatives won 32 seats in Westminster, with Labour reduced to 22, giving them control of one of the country’s most high-profile local authorities.
The result is symbolically important because Labour only won Westminster for the first time in 2022, ending decades of Conservative control in the borough. Despite stronger performances elsewhere in the capital, the result will still be disappointing for Labour, given the political significance attached to its 2022 breakthrough in Westminster. At the time, the victory was seen as evidence that the Conservatives were losing ground even in areas once regarded as natural territory. The Conservative recovery there will therefore be used by the party as evidence that it can still compete strongly in parts of London.