Hackney 7 Councillors Quitting Before May Elections 2026

Key Points

• Seven Hackney councillors, including a London Assembly member, are standing down before the local elections on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
• Labour has held control of Hackney Council for all but seven years since its creation in 1964, currently with 44 councillors compared to 6 Conservatives, 3 Greens, and 4 Independents.
• Four Labour councillors have resigned since the last local elections, contributing to changes in the council’s composition.
• Several politicians have confirmed they will quit ahead of this year’s elections, while three sitting councillors have been blocked by Labour from standing again.
• Current Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, is standing for re-election as mayor but will leave her Cazenove ward seat after 8 years.
• Woodley has represented Cazenove since winning the mayoralty in a 2023 by-election, triggered by predecessor Philip Glanville’s resignation over links to a disgraced Labour councillor.
• Cllr Sophie Conway, a Hackney native and social housing tenant, has represented Hackney Central since 2016 and is stepping down; she served as chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, overseeing a review of school behaviour policies and exclusions.
• All sitting Conservative councillors are planning to stand again in May, though a spokesperson noted “nothing is confirmed”.
• The Green Party stated they would release their candidate list in the coming weeks.
• Labour is expected to field its slate of candidates for the May elections in due course.

Hackney (East London Times) February 14, 2026 – Seven Hackney councillors, including London Assembly member Caroline Woodley, are set to stand down ahead of the local elections on May 7, 2026, amid ongoing changes within the Labour-dominated council. Labour currently holds 44 seats on the 57-seat authority, facing 6 Conservatives, 3 Greens, and 4 Independents, but recent resignations and deselections signal potential shifts. While Mayor Woodley seeks re-election, three other Labour councillors have been blocked from re-standing by the party.

Who Are the Seven Councillors Standing Down?

The departures include a mix of voluntary quits and party decisions, as detailed in coverage from MyLondon. As reported across various sources, the seven include Mayor Caroline Woodley, who is vacating her Cazenove ward seat after eight years of service despite pursuing the mayoral role again. Woodley won the mayoralty in a 2023 by-election following Philip Glanville’s resignation, which stemmed from his associations with a disgraced Labour councillor—though specific details on that individual were not elaborated in the initial reports.

Cllr Sophie Conway, representing Hackney Central since 2016, is another key figure stepping down. A Hackney native and social housing tenant, Conway chaired the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, which recently conducted a review of school behaviour policies and exclusions in the borough. The MyLondon article highlights her contributions without specifying further reasons for her exit.

The identities of the remaining five councillors were not fully listed in the primary MyLondon coverage provided, but context suggests they encompass the “several politicians who have confirmed they will stand down” alongside the three deselected by Labour. No additional names were attributed in the snippet, maintaining focus on high-profile cases like Woodley and Conway. Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands these changes follow four prior resignations since the last elections, thinning Labour’s ranks.

Why Is Mayor Caroline Woodley Leaving Her Ward?

What prompted Mayor Woodley’s ward departure? Caroline Woodley, the current Mayor of Hackney, is standing for re-election to the ceremonial role but will relinquish her Cazenove seat after eight years. As per MyLondon’s reporting, Woodley has continued representing the ward post her 2023 by-election victory for mayor, which was necessitated by Philip Glanville’s exit over ties to a disgraced Labour councillor. This dual role has evidently reached its conclusion, with Woodley quoted in related coverage as committed to borough-wide leadership: “We will hill climb,” in a nod to her mayoral priorities.

No direct statement from Woodley on her personal reasons for quitting Cazenove appears in the sources, but the structural shift—from ward-specific to executive focus—aligns with mayoral demands. LDRS notes this as part of broader Labour transitions ahead of May 7.

How Does This Tie to Past Mayoral Changes?

Philip Glanville’s 2023 resignation, as referenced, was linked to a disgraced Labour councillor, triggering the by-election Woodley won. MyLondon’s earlier piece on Woodley’s inauguration (“We hill climb: Hackney Mayor”) underscores her ascent amid controversy, positioning her as a stabilising figure now pivoting fully to the mayoralty.

What Role Has Cllr Sophie Conway Played?

Who is Cllr Sophie Conway and why is she quitting? Cllr Sophie Conway, a Hackney native and social housing tenant, has served Hackney Central since 2016. MyLondon profiles her as chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, which oversaw a review of school behaviour policies and exclusions—detailed in a linked article on London borough high school exclusions.

Conway’s tenure reflects grassroots representation, given her tenant background, but no explicit reason for her May departure is stated. Her exit adds to the seven, potentially opening competitive races in Hackney Central.

What Happens to Labour’s Blocked Councillors?

Which three councillors were deselected by Labour? Three sitting Labour councillors have been blocked from re-standing, as confirmed by MyLondon. Specific names and reasons were not disclosed in the coverage, but this aligns with internal party selections amid recent resignations. Labour’s dominance—unbroken save seven years since 1964—faces tests, with four prior resignations eroding their 44-seat majority.

LDRS reporting emphasises the party’s expectation to field a full slate soon, suggesting disciplined reshuffling.

How Are Other Parties Responding?

Will Conservatives and Greens field candidates? All six sitting Conservative councillors plan to stand again, per a party spokesperson who cautioned: “nothing is confirmed”. MyLondon notes this intent, contrasting Labour’s flux.

The three Greens will release their list “in the coming weeks,” maintaining strategic silence for now. Independents hold four seats, with no updates on their plans.

What Is Hackney Council’s Political History?

How long has Labour controlled Hackney? Labour has governed Hackney Council for all but seven years since 1964, per MyLondon’s historical context. This hegemony underpins the story’s stakes, with current composition at 44 Labour, 6 Tory, 3 Green, 4 Independent.

Post-2022 elections, four Labour resignations have adjusted dynamics, amplifying the impact of these seven changes.

Why Are These Elections Significant?

What changes could May 7 bring to Hackney? The May 7, 2026, elections occur against resignations, deselections, and Woodley’s reconfiguration. Labour’s slate announcement looms, potentially retaining control despite losses. Conservatives’ continuity and Greens’ forthcoming list could fragment votes.

LDRS highlights all sitting Tories’ plans, positioning them as steady challengers. Voter turnout and ward battles in Cazenove, Hackney Central, and deselected seats will prove pivotal.

Broader Context of Hackney Politics

Hackney’s Labour machine, longstanding since 1964, navigates scandals—like Glanville’s exit—and scrutiny, as with Conway’s school reviews. MyLondon’s coverage, drawing on LDRS (Josef Steen), ensures comprehensive sourcing. No statements from quitting councillors beyond confirmed intentions appear, preserving neutrality.