The 2026 Wandsworth London Borough Council election took place on 7 May 2026. 58 members of Wandsworth London Borough Council were elected. The elections took place alongside local elections in the other London boroughs and elections to local authorities across the United Kingdom.

Prior to the election, the council was under Labour majority control. At the election, the council went under no overall control. The Conservatives overtook Labour to become the largest party by one seat, but fell one seat short of having an overall majority themselves. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 27 May 2026 the Conservative leader, Aled Richards-Jones, was appointed as leader of the council, leading a Conservative minority administration with the support of Malcolm Grimston, the lone independent councillor elected.

Background

In 2022, Conservatives lost control of the council to Labour.

Previous council composition

After 2022 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats 35 34 28 22 21 29 0 1 0 1 2 1 Changes 2022–2026: May 2022: Andy Gibbons (Labour) dies – by-election held July 2022 July 2022: Rex Osborn (Labour) wins by-election November 2023: Kate Forbes (Labour) resigns – by-election held January 2024 January 2024: Sean Lawless (Labour) wins by-election March 2024: Claire Gilbert (Labour) resigns – by-election held May 2024 May 2024: Nick Austin (Conservative) gains by-election from Labour July 2025: Nick Austin (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent August 2025: Mark Justin (Conservative) joins Reform

Result summary

Wards

Election results from the Wandsworth Council website.

Balham

Battersea Park

East Putney

Falconbrook

Furzedown

Lavender

Nine Elms

Northcote

Roehampton

Shaftesbury and Queenstown

South Balham

Southfields

St Mary's

Thamesfield

Tooting Bec

Tooting Broadway

Trinity

Wandle

Wandsworth Common

Wandsworth Town

West Hill

West Putney

By-elections

Trinity

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Lizzy Dobres, who cited taking up a job that is "politically restricted" as the reason for her resignation. The by-election is particularly important, as a Conservative victory would tip the council into Conservative majority control.https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/control-finely-balanced-wandsworth-council-34281805

References