London’s council and mayoral elections are fast approaching, and voters in Hackney will soon be heading to the polls.
But, who can you vote for, what is at stake, and what is happening in the area?
Here is our guide to all you need to know ahead of the election on 7 May…
Where is Hackney?
Hackney is a north east London borough, in the inner parts of the capital.
Buzzing with businesses and exponentially growing, Hackney has transformed over the past two decades from a deprived urban area to a prospering and desirable local community.
However, with increasing trends in the area, a rapid rate of gentrification has led to a rise in unaffordable housing and rent.
What happened at the last election?
Labour retained control of Hackney Council in 2022, winning 50 of the 57 seats.
However, they lost two seats to the Green Party, with the Conservatives holding five and remaining as the main opposition.
Labour: 50 seats (-2)
Conservatives: 5 seats (-)
Green Party: 2 seats (+2)
Hackney is one of five London boroughs which elect a mayor as well.
Caroline Woodley is the third elected mayor for Hackney and was chosen in November 2023, following the resignation of Philip Glanville and a resulting by-election.
She has focused on tackling the cost of living, housing and the administration of over 1,000 new council houses, environment and infrastructure, and the social landscape after implementing initiatives to deal with racism and discrimination.
Since 2022, due to a series of council by-elections in the area, council seat dispersal has been shaken up.
Labour – 44
Conservatives – 6
Green Party – 4
Hackney Independent Socialist Party – 3
With Labour’s national popularity in rapid decline, the current mayor and Labour council face challenges with the Greens having an ever-growing stronghold in the area.
Who are the candidates?
There are five mayoral candidates:
- Zoë Garbett – Green Party
- Vahid Almasi – Reform UK
- Eva Steinhardt – Liberal Democrats
- Caroline Woodley – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Tareke Gregg – Conservative Party
A viral social media video posted recently displayed Dylan Law, a 20-year-old Green Candidate, speaking on local issues and demonstrating a desire to be deputy mayor alongside Zoë Garbett.
The viral video is a clear indication of a potential change in public consensus on Labour despite Hackney being under Labour local government for over 23 years.
What are the local issues?
Hackney’s growing popularity has pushed for many rehabilitation projects, development of infrastructure and maintenance of environments and local businesses.
However, this has driven out many long-standing residents, lower-income and local firms due to its growing population, desirability, and gentrification, causing the cost of living to go up, according to a BBC report.
Despite that, Hackney is a diverse, young and rapidly developing borough looking to maintain fair and equitable social values through its changing political landscape.
Interesting facts about Hackney
As of 2026, Hackney has had a steadily increasing estimated population size of 270,000–280,000, which is characterised as mostly young professionals and gaining traction as an up-and-coming prime location for 20 to 30-year-olds.
ONS data shows that the average rent for flats or maisonettes rose by 2.6%, while for terraced properties, it increased by 2.4%.
Moreover, they found that first-time buyers pay a significantly higher amount in Hackney compared to both the averages in England and London.
Table provided by ONS data on their website.
It homes over 62 parks, and is considered one of the most verdant boroughs in London, while also being steeped in Tudor and medieval history.
Hackney is now known as a quirky, ‘hipster’, small-plates hotspot for the new young professional wave moving to the big city.
Feature Image Credit: Samuel Regan-Asante via Unsplash
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