Ealing Liberal Democrats have hailed Thursday’s (7 May 2026) local election result as a “massive breakthrough” after winning 13 seats across the borough — their highest ever total on Ealing Council.
The Lib Dems also remain Labour’s official opposition on the council.
Leading up to election day on 7 May 2026, Labour held 56 seats on the council, while the Liberal Democrats held eight, Conservatives four, and two councillors sat as independents.
One of the Lib Dems’ biggest successes came in Walpole ward, where the party took all three seats from Labour after it had held the ward since 2014.
Newly elected Walpole councillor Matt Mellor told EALING.NEWS the result reflected the party’s focus on speaking to local residents about issues affecting them.
Councillor Mellow said: “We are delighted to have made a massive breakthrough in Walpole taking three seats off Labour. Our success is testimony to Lib Dem community politics – actually speaking to thousands of people and caring about the issues which matter to them in Walpole.”
He added: “We are excited to get started and grateful for the fantastic support and well wishes we have received from residents across the ward.”
Fellow Walpole councillor Mark Sanders said residents in parts of the borough felt ignored by the council.
He told EALING.NEWS: “There are many neglected areas within the borough and they feel the council ignores them. The issue of fly tipping and HMOs where landlords and tenants need education on their disposal of rubbish.”
Councillor Sanders added: “Lib Dems want to see more CCTV for hot spots on anti social behaviour. Basically we will continue to listen and engage with residents on traffic issues around the ward.”
In the 2022 elections, Labour won 59 seats, the Liberal Democrats six and the Conservatives five.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, said the party’s gains showed growing support across the borough.
He said: “It is fantastic that the Liberal Democrats have more than doubled the number of councillors and made gains from both Labour and the Tories.
“These local, hardworking champions will be getting to work straight away to scrutinise the council and push the Labour-run council to make changes which help residents and businesses rather than what they have been doing which has been to increase taxes whilst leaving our streets dirtier and not safe.”
Labour retained overall control of Ealing Council despite losing 10 councillors in the elections.
Ealing Council is now made up of 46 Labour councillors, 13 Liberal Democrats, five Conservatives, five Green Party councillors and one independent councillor.
 local election result as a “massive breakthrough” after winning 13 seats across the borough — their highest ever total on Ealing Council.){kind=link}