It was a historic win in Waltham Forest for the Greens as they ended Labour’s 16-year rule of the borough despite having previously had no seats.
The Green Party, who were projected to do well beforehand, won 31 seats and claimed only their third ever London council in the north east borough.
Labour previously held 44 seats in the borough, now down to 15 – they refused to comment throughout.
Liz Biggs, newly elected local councillor for the Lea Bridge ward, which received the most votes out of any Green ward, said: “We’re absolutely delighted, this is what happens when you include the community. We plan to turn the whole of Waltham Forest green.”
Chanté Johnson, newly elected to represent Markhouse ward, said: “I just couldn’t be happier and we have so much work ahead of us.”
Throughout the ward announcements, the Green Party grew louder with enthusiasm after realising they were advancing into Labour strongholds.
Tom Hainge, newly elected local councillor for Cann Hall ward, said: “It’s been a wild day, I’m feeling electric and full of emotions.”
A noticeable divide exists across the borough, with Labour and Green support concentrated in the south, and more Conservative-leaning areas in the north.
Emma Best, Leader of the Waltham Forest Conservative Group, said she was proud of the “strong campaign” in the north of the borough.
The Chingford Green ward saw the biggest Conservative votes out of any other ward, as the party picked up 14 seats, one more than in 2022.
Historically a minor party in Waltham Forest, the Liberal Democrats have won only a small number of council seats since the 1990s and early 2000s – and none this election.
Asim Shahzad, Liberal Democrats candidate for the Leyton ward, said: “The campaign has gone well, I’ve learnt a lot about working with different people and understanding how I can handle challenges, as well as controlling the pressures.”
In 2019, Waltham Forest was the first borough to be crowned the London Borough of Culture.
The 12th most diverse council in the UK, with almost half of the borough’s residents were born overseas, and some of the largest communities originating from Romania, Pakistan, Poland and Turkey.
The borough is home to several heritage sites including the renowned Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow wetlands, and the newly built Soho Theatre Walthamstow that opened last spring.
The new council will begin by tackling residents’ key priorities, focusing on strengthening public services, affordable housing, and improving green spaces.
You can check out all of North East Londoner’s local election coverage here.
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