Labour has lost a by-election to the Tories in central London amid the row over Sadiq Khan’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.
The Conservatives saw their vote jump nearly nine per cent in the West End ward of Westminster Council to just under 49 per cent, with Labour down by slightly more than ten per cent to 38 per cent.
Tory candidate Tim Barnes got 627 votes, Labour’s Fiona Parker 489, Green Rajiv Sinha 94 and Liberal Democrat Philip Kerle 74.
Turnout was less than 17 per cent.
The result came just days after Mr Khan had unveiled plans, backed by the Government, to pedestrianise parts of Oxford Street.
The move is controversial with even the Labour-run Westminster Council raising concerns.
It was not clear if the West End ward vote result was swayed by the pedestrianisation row.
But Nickie Aiken, former Tory MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, tweeted: “Congrats to @VoteTimBarnes @westminstertory on a great by-election win.
“People of West End made clear their views on @MayorofLondon plans to strip @CityWestminster of ownership of Oxford Street and pedestrianise our iconic High St.”
Labour sources said that in eight council by-elections across the country on Thursday the party was down nearly 14 per cent, and so it’s vote in West End had held up better than in some other areas including in the Harrow Road ward of Westminster were it was down just over 27 per cent, even though they still held the seat.
Mr Khan announced the proposal to pedestrianise parts of the popular shopping street on Tuesday as part of a wider regeneration project supported by the Government.
The scheme, which would see the 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch pedestrianised with the potential for further changes towards Tottenham Court Road, is aimed at boosting the experience of shoppers, residents, workers and tourists.
But the plans have divided Londoners, including shoppers, road users and politicians, with pedestrian safety and accessibility for less mobile visitors seen as key issues.
Oxford Street is one of the world’s busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day.
Announcing the revitalised plans, the Mayor said: “Oxford Street was once the jewel in the crown of Britain’s retail sector, but there’s no doubt that it has suffered hugely over the last decade.
“Urgent action is needed to give the nation’s most famous high street a new lease of life.”
But Westminster Council leader Cllr Adam Hug has written to the Mayor and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner raising ten concerns over the proposal including on displacing traffic into narrow, nearby roads, air pollution, ensuring local residents views are heard over the plan, and protecting access for older people, people with disabilities and families with young children.
He stressed: “It is no secret that our own well-developed plans for the future of Oxford Street focused on ways to transform and improve the street whilst retaining bus, taxi and cycle access.
“The substantial practical challenges for delivering pedestrianisation are well known and will need to be thoroughly addressed to ensure any future transformation of the street works properly and does so in the interests of everyone who has a long-term stake in the West End, including local residents.”
Ms Rayner said the plans, estimated to cost around £150 million, would give the shopping district the “boost it needs”.
City Hall officials hope that the project could be paid for by a combination of local businesses, new revenue streams and private funders.
A previous attempt by Mr Khan to ban traffic from the road was blocked by then-Conservative run Westminster City Council in 2018.
Mr Khan’s latest proposal depends on him obtaining permission from Ms Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which would provide planning powers.
This request can only be made following a statutory period of consultation and consideration by the London Assembly.
Restrictions already in place mean between 7am and 7pm vehicular access to parts of Oxford Street is limited to taxis and buses, except on Sundays.
Labour held onto a council seat in a second by-election further west in Westminster, in the Harrow Road ward.
The party’s Regan Hook gained 512 votes, the Green Party’s Faaiz Hasan was second with 244, followed by Hoz Shafiei of the Workers Party for Britain, Conservative Jonathan Goff 162, Liberal Democrat Helen Toeman 63, and Independent Abby-Jan Dharamsey 11.
Turnout was less than 15 per cent.
