Ealing and neighbouring West London councils are working together to boost businesses and create jobs despite being run by different political parties, the leader of Hillingdon Council has said.
Speaking at the Ealing Business Club at Bobo Social in Filmworks, Ealing Broadway, last Thursday (25 June 2026), Councillor Steve Tuckwell said Conservative-run Hillingdon was working closely with Labour-run Ealing and Hounslow, as well as Conservative-run Harrow, to share ideas and support economic growth across the region.
Asked how councils with different political leaderships worked together, Councillor Tuckwell said: “Despite the fact that in West London there are different colour rosettes for the political parties, there is an absolute determination. There’s a shared objective to benefit business and benefit our residents.”
In his address, Councillor Tuckwell highlighted Ealing Council’s work on expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure as an example of neighbouring boroughs learning from one another.
He said: “Ealing are kind of leading the way on that in West London, and Hillingdon have got catching up to do, but we’re learning the lessons from our friends and colleagues just across the border in Ealing as well.”
The Conservative leader, who has been in the role for five weeks, said he regularly spoke with neighbouring authorities to learn from successful initiatives.
Councillor Tuckwell said: “I was sat talking to the leader of Hounslow last week. I was leaning into him about what he was doing because I’m looking to do something similar in Hillingdon.
“I’m looking to shamelessly steal ideas from neighbouring councils. For me, it doesn’t matter what colour their rosette is. I’ve been talking to people here in Ealing and over in Brent as well. They’re all neighbouring councils.”
Councillor Tuckwell said political debate did not prevent councils from working together where there were shared priorities.
He said: “There will be differences of opinion and the theatre that comes with politics, but when it boils down to it, we all want the same thing. The journey to get to that destination might be slightly different, but we all want to get there.”
He also said Ealing residents were currently outperforming those in Hillingdon in securing employment opportunities at Heathrow Airport, adding that both councils were working with the airport to help more small and medium-sized businesses access its supply chain.
Councillor Tuckwell said the wider West London economy was worth around £70 billion and argued neighbouring boroughs could achieve more by working together to attract investment, support businesses and create opportunities for future generations.
