‘Hopeful and energetic’
THE Labour Party has held onto Ealing Council, securing power for another four years.
The strong result for Labour saw the party pick up 59 seats, giving them a majority.
Across the borough, a total of 264 candidates from nine parties battled it out for 70 seats across 24 wards. Labour saw off tough competition from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, who each put forward 70 candidates.
The Conservative Party won five seats, while the Liberal Democrats clinched 6. The Green Party and the Ealing Independent Network won no seats at all.
Labour Council Leader Peter Mason said: “We said we would be an open, inclusive and transparent party, and this is what Ealing Labour will continue to deliver. We are both humbled and elated to be re-elected to a historic fourth term with an increased majority.
“We remain hopeful and energetic to change our borough for the better with the faith and confidence that the people of our incredible borough have given us.”
Labour retained control of the council despite local controversy over the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods over the course of the Covid pandemic, which saw the previous leader of the council ousted in May 2021.
Other issues voters considered as they headed to the polls included the high levels of development in the borough. Tower blocks springing up in parts of the borough have proved controversial: while supporters highlighted the need for affordable housing in Ealing, critics campaigned against building high-rise blocks of flats and the loss of open green space.
Candidates also laid out plans for how they would tackle the borough’s high levels of pollution and support its green development. The national cost of living crisis also featured on the agenda for voters.
Labour’s victory in Ealing signifies the fourth consecutive administration for the party, who have been in power since 2010.
This year’s election marked a departure from previous years due to a shake up of ward boundaries, with 69 seats available in just 20 wards in 2018.