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LIVE BLOG: Local Election results and reaction

News and views as the results roll in across England, Scotland and Wales. Labour has so far lost control of eight councils and is expected to lose Wales

Three Labour councillors see off Green challenge in Friern Barnet
Three Labour councillors see off Green challenge in Friern Barnet

Barnet Council heading for no overall control

latest results declared for Barnet Council 2026
latest results declared for Barnet Council 2026

If Labour, as expected secures both Underhill seats, Barnet Council will fall into no overall control.

This result would leave the scores Tories 31, Labour 31, Greens 1.

Earlier, Labour lost one of the three they had been expected to pick up in East Barnet, leaving no overall control the most likely result

Are Labour now heading for narrow Barnet victory?

Jewish Labour councillor Sara Conway wins in Burnt Oak
Jewish Labour councillor Sara Conway wins in Burnt Oak

Impressive results for Labour in East Finchley and another win in Burnt Oak have left the Barnet local election result on a knife-edge.

Some now believe the Labour Group could be on course to retain the Council, possibly by a narrow two seat margin.

As the results continued to come in there was expected success for Tory candidates in Garden Suburb.

Despite having lost several seats, one projection is that Labour ends up with 32 seats, the Tories 30 and the Greens 1.

 

 

Newly elected Barnet Green confirms being a supporter of Corbyn

Barnet Greens Charli Thompson
Barnet Greens Charli Thompson

Victorious Barnet Green candidate Charli Thompson confirms she was previously a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn in the Chipping Barnet Labour Party.

But the newly elected Barnet councillor brands Jewish News “vile” as we attempt to ask her about social media posts on the topic of antisemitism.

 

Current state of play in Barnet

latest results declared for Barnet Council 2026

Labour in precarious position in Barnet

Barnet Council logo
Barnet Council logo

Labour in precarious position in Barnet after losing three seats in Brunswick Park.

But there is still a slim route to victory if they pick up wins in 9 wards that Labour has previously won in the borough.

That would leave Labour with 33, and the Tories on 29.  The Greens have one councillor.

Suspect both main parties would refuse to work with the Green.

Barnet Vale result leaves Labour win still possible

Labour have picked two of the three seats in Barnet Vale leaving a possible route to retaining control of the council still possible.

The Conservatives, who have made significant gains across the council, picked up one seat in Barnet Vale, the same result as in 2022.

Labour cannot afford any more slip-ups in areas they have previously won in Barnet to retain control.

Barnet Tories say ‘community has come out for us’ as possible victory nears

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaks with members of the Jewish community during a visit to the Hatzola ambulance station in Stamford Hill, north London. Picture date: Tuesday March 24, 2026. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaks with members of the Jewish community during a visit to the Hatzola ambulance station in Stamford Hill, north London. Picture date: Tuesday March 24, 2026. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Barnet Conservative sources have told Jewish News “the community has backed us” as a route to possibly regaining control of the Council became clear.

They pointed to substantial wins for candidates in places like Childs Hill and Edwarebury as the results were declared.

One senior Tory also praised leader Kemi Badenoch’s strong interventions on antisemitism as having contributed to the party’s strong showing.

 

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Starmer: Days like this don’t weaken my resolve to deliver the change that I promised

Sir Keir Starmer finds himself under pressure following disastrous local election results as Nigel Farage claimed Reform UK is on course to win the next general election.

Early results saw Labour haemorrhage hundreds of councillors and eight local authorities across England while Reform, the Greens and Liberal Democrats all made gains.
The Prime Minister faces further heavy losses as vote counting continues throughout Friday in both English local elections and contests for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd.

In Wales, Labour is expected to lose the national vote for the first time in more than a century while the SNP appears likely to remain the largest party in Scotland after 19 years in power.

Sir Keir has already faced speculation about his leadership, with the Times reporting Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had urged the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure.

But Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy urged his party not to play “pass the parcel” with the leadership in response to the election results.

Labour sources pointed to poor local election results under previous prime ministers, including Sir Tony Blair who lost 1,100 councillors in 1999 but went on to win re-election in a landslide in 2001.