Barnet Conservatives hail the ‘Kemi effect’ in dramatic local election result
How Jewish voters in Barnet helped overturn Labour's control of the council
Barnet Conservatives openly praised the “Kemi effect” as Jewish voters in parts of the borough turned out in significant numbers for the party’s candidates.
A dramatic local election result led to Labour losing its overall control of the council.
The marathon election count, held at the RAF Museum in Hendon on Friday, ended with both Barnet Tories and Labour finishing on 31 seats each.
This means that Barnet Council now faces the seemingly confusing path of no overall control.
The Greens won a councillor their target seat of Woodhouse, leaving them holding the balance of power in a borough where around one in seven residents are Jewish.
The result marks a significant shift from the previous administration, which was made up of 40 Labour councillors and 19 Conservatives, alongside two councillors not affiliated with a political group – one representing Reform and one the Green Party.
The new council will meet for the first time on Tuesday, 19 May, to determine key cabinet appointments and agree on the administration of the borough.
The election of Charli Thompson as the sole Green councillor—a former Jeremy Corbyn supporter who joined Labour in 2019—will alarm many in the Jewish community.
Despite the confusion caused by Barnet falling into no overall control, there are signs that some Labour and Conservative councillors can work together respectfully on critical issues, including the rise in antisemitism.
Neither Labour nor the Conservative Group intends to enter a formal coalition with the newly elected Green councillor, Jewish News understands.
The mayor—currently a Labour representative—retains the casting vote on the newly elected council.
Polling experts had predicted a Conservative regain of Barnet in the 2026 elections, citing the unpopularity of Keir Starmer’s government and criticism from Jewish voters over Labour’s response to antisemitism, including a recent stabbing and arson attack in the borough.
Debate will continue over whether Barnet Conservatives should be disappointed at not winning the council outright in these elections.
Leader Kemi Badenoch previously named Barnet, alongside Wandsworth and Westminster, as a top Tory target in London.
She visited the borough several times, including the day before the election.
Earlier she had toured the streets of Golders Green, visiting local stores including Kosher Kingdom. Returning to the area again more recently to offer solidarity following the horrific double-stabbing attack.
However, as Jewish News reported, fully overturning Labour’s ten-seat lead in Barnet was always going to be difficult.
Boundary changes and Labour’s continued loyal support in areas like East Finchley were also important factors.
A breakdown of the 2026 election results showed Barnet Tories received 35% of the votes and Labour 26%—figures notably higher for both main parties than in many other areas nationally.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK also intervened in this election, fielding several Jewish candidates in an attempt to attract voters dissatisfied with Labour and the Tories’ responses to rising antisemitism.
However, Reform UK failed to secure any councillors in Barnet, despite strong turnouts for some candidates.
In Tory strongholds like Edgware, Reform candidates finished second but remained far behind the winners.
Early analysis showed that many areas with high Jewish populations saw unusually large turnouts, with voters backing Tory candidates such as Group leader Peter Zinkin in Golders Green and others in Edgware, Edgwarebury, and Garden Suburb, including Benjamin Goldberg, Martha Levy, and Shimon Ryde.
As the party secured its win in Mill Hill, the three victorious local Tories celebrated by dancing.
Turnout was unusually high in these areas—some approaching 50%, a rarity for local elections.
Strong Jewish support for Conservative candidates was also evident in traditionally safe Tory wards. Edgwarebury, which narrowly avoided going Labour in the general election, became staunchly Tory in this local poll.
Barnet Conservatives almost unanimously praised party leader Kemi Badenoch for mobilising Jewish voters, particularly due to her repeated interventions on tackling rampant antisemitism.
One successful candidate, speaking anonymously, told Jewish News: “Without a doubt, Kemi has had a positive impact on the vote here in Barnet.
“There may have been local issues, but Kemi’s stance on antisemitism, along with her staunch support for Israel, clearly made a difference for many Jewish voters here.”
A local Labour councillor also acknowledged Badenoch’s impact on the vote in Barnet, saying they respected her clear stance against antisemitism.
For Barnet Labour, who won control of the council in 2022, the result was disappointing, but not the complete disaster experienced by Starmer’s party in neighbouring London boroughs and elsewhere.
Some told Jewish News the results showed Barnet Labour “punched above its weight” and managed to avoid losing its grip on the council completely.
Jewish Labour candidates such as Sara Conway, Alan Schneiderman, and Ezra Cohen, along with ex-Gogglebox star Josh Tapper (elected in Underhill ward), found success. Respected community allies Anne Clarke and Ross Houston were also re-elected.
However, there was an upset in Whetstone ward, where Jewish Labour Movement chair Ella Rose-Jacobs was narrowly defeated. Labour’s Cohen and Tory candidate Stephen Lewis each won a seat in a very close result.
Victorious Green candidate Thompson told Jewish News she had no time for divisiveness and aimed to serve everyone in the borough, regardless of faith.
However, when questioned about her support for Corbyn and possible social media comments referencing antisemitism, she called the journalist “vile” and refused further comment.
In another Green target ward, Friern Barnet, all three Green candidates finished a close second to Labour, including against council leader Barry Rawlings.
Reform drew most of its votes from the north and west of Barnet. In the traditionally pro-Labour east, Green votes increased significantly.
Barnet Council’s Returning Officer and Chief Executive, Cath Shaw, said: “Thank you to everyone who worked on these elections for all their hard work to run a smooth local election. I would like to congratulate all the successful candidates.
“We look forward to working with all our elected Members to deliver their aspirations for the borough and continuing to make Barnet a great place to live, work and study.”
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