Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Ealing on Friday morning (8 May 2026) and said Labour had faced “tough results” in the borough’s local elections, with a number of senior and long-serving Ealing Labour councillors losing their seats.
Compared with the party’s 2022 result, when Labour won 59 seats, and the 56 councillors it held going into the 2026 elections, Ealing Labour losses included two cabinet members and the party’s chief whip who were voted out.
In Hanwell Broadway, the Green Party won all three seats from Labour, with Polly Knewstub, Labour cabinet member for healthy equal lives, losing her seat.
The Conservatives also took all three seats in North Greenford, where Labour lost all of its councillors, including Shital Manro, Labour cabinet member for good growth and new homes.
Walpole ward saw the Liberal Democrats take all three seats from Labour, while Gareth Shaw, Labour chief whip, lost his seat after contesting South Acton ward. Mr Shaw had previously represented Walpole before being selected to stand in South Acton at this year’s election.
Speaking at Kingsdown Methodist Church in Northfields, located in Walpole ward, Mr Starmer admitted voters were frustrated and said Labour had not moved quickly enough to improve people’s lives.
He said: “These are tough results for Labour. There’s no sugarcoating it. We’ve lost brilliant Labour representatives who’ve stood up for their communities.
“People are still frustrated. Their lives aren’t changing fast enough. We haven’t offered enough hope or optimism for the future.
“I was elected to change this country – tough days like this don’t weaken my determination to do that. They strengthen it.”
On election night Labour won 46 of Ealing Council’s 70 seats, the Liberal Democrats remain the official opposition with 13 seats, while the Conservatives and Green Party both won five seats. One independent councillor was also elected.
Ealing Council confirmed turnout across the borough was 43.54%, up from 40.31% in the 2022 local elections.
A record 367 candidates stood in this year’s election, the highest number of any London borough during the 2026 local elections.
Click on the name of a ward below to see the full results.
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