Labour celebrates in Wandsworth
(Picture: REUTERS)Labour has won control of Wandsworth for the first time since 1978 in a blow for the Conservatives in what was once said to be Margaret Thatcher’s favourite council.
Simon Hogg will take the helm as the new council leader, in a victorious night for the Labour party, after gaining nine seats since the last council election in 2018.
Tory Ravi Govindia, who led the Wandsworth council for 11 years, told the Standard that national issues, including the cost of living crisis, were “not something one could hide away from” and were partly to blame for the "disappointing" result.
He said he believed a combination of “micro local” and national issues impacted the result which saw the former Tory flagship borough change hands for the first time in 44 years.
“It was both. There were certainly in, some areas, micro-local issues and they probably affected people’s judgement. And yes, of course, national issues.
“People have balanced national against local issues and come to a view, which I’m sorry it has come to the result it has. I’m disappointed for colleagues who have lost seats and were hoping to become councillors. It’s time to go to bed”.
As the counts were announced, a wave of cheers erupted from the Labour side of the hall.
Mr Hogg said it had been an “incredible night, way beyond my expectations”.
“This has been decades in the making for us.
“The hard work starts tomorrow, and we will build that compassionate council that truly listens, we’re going to build genuinely affordable homes and safer, greener streets”.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the result showed “the public is fed up with complacency of Tory councils, complacency of Tory government, and are willing to give us a chance”.
With his sights on the next General Election, Mr Khan continued: “Many Conservatives who have never voted Labour before have switched over to us tonight in Wandsworth, that bodes well for our party”.
Following the result, Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said she was “still pinching herself”.
“Without a doubt, national issues played a huge role,” she said.
“People are struggling between heating and eating, and also not trusting the Conservatives.”
Councilllor Maurice Mcleod, who won in Battersea Park Ward, said his main priority was to “make the borough more fair”, adding it was “really unbalanced” in terms of wealth inequality.
Newly-appointed Labour councillor Juliana Annan, who also won in the Battersea Park Ward, said she got into politics to be a “voice for the voiceless”.
She added that housing was the main issue that came up for voters on the doorstep.
