Former Ealing Labour chief whip Gareth Shaw has been selected as Labour’s candidate for next month’s North Acton ward by-election.
The by-election, set to take place on 25 June 2026, was triggered after newly elected Green Party councillor Simon Anthony resigned less than two weeks after the 7 May 2026 local elections, citing health reasons.
Mr Shaw lost his council seat earlier this month after standing for Labour in South Acton. Before that he represented Walpole ward, where the Liberal Democrats won all three council seats from Labour.
The election saw Labour retain control of Ealing Council despite losing 10 councillors, including two cabinet members and Mr Shaw, the party’s chief whip. Labour now holds 46 of the council’s 70 seats, while the Liberal Democrats increased their total to 13 seats. The Conservatives won five seats, the Green Party secured five seats and one independent councillor was elected.
North Acton ward was one of the closest contests in the borough.
Simon Anthony secured 1,298 votes for the Greens, finishing just behind Labour councillor Blerina Hashani, who topped the poll with 1,356 votes. Labour councillor Hodan Mohamoud Haili took the ward’s third seat with 1,296 votes.
Labour’s other North Acton candidate, Guneet Singh Malik, who replaced de-selected councillor Daniel Crawford before the election, finished fourth with 1,186 votes.
Candidates from other parties as well as independents interested in standing have until 4pm 29 May 2026 to submit their nomination papers.
The statement of persons nominated — confirming the final list of candidates standing in the election — will then be published by Ealing Council at 5pm on the same day (29 May 2026).
