Green Party Wins Waltham Forest Council Control — Waltham Forest 2026

Key Points

• The Green Party won control of Waltham Forest Council for the first time, taking 31 of the 60 seats and ending 16 years of Labour control.
• Labour’s representation fell sharply from 44 (or 32 in some counts reported) to 15 seats, becoming the main opposition.
• The Conservatives increased to 14 seats on the council, gaining one seat compared with the previous standing.
• The Greens also made major gains across London in the same local elections, taking control of Lewisham and Hackney councils and winning mayoral contests in parts of the capital.
• Turnout in Waltham Forest was reported at about 42.08% during the local election.
• Local Green figures described the result as evidence of an appetite for change among Waltham Forest voters after long Labour dominance.

Waltham Forest (East London Times) May 13, 2026 — The Green Party secured a historic majority on Waltham Forest Council, winning 31 of the borough’s 60 seats and displacing Labour after 16 years of control, party and council figures confirmed during the count on 7 May.As reported by Marco Marcelline of Waltham Forest Echo, the Greens finished the count with 31 seats, Labour were reduced to 15 seats and the Conservatives finished on 14 councillors, giving the Greens a clear lead on the 60‑seat council.

What does this result mean for Labour in Waltham Forest?

Waltham Forest Echo reported that Labour’s share collapsed dramatically — in some coverage the party fell from 44 seats previously to 15, while other sources place Labour’s earlier standing differently; regardless, the party was reduced to the main opposition following a substantial loss of seats on the night.

Explore More Waltham Forest Council News

Waltham Forest Election Count: Labour Faces Challenges 2026

Waltham Forest Planning Applications: Extensions Surge 2026

Who are notable Green figures commenting on the win?

As reported by Waltham Forest Echo, Cllr Rob Gardner, elected for Leyton and serving as Green Party co‑chair, said:

“These amazing results demonstrate the enormous appetite for change felt by people in Waltham Forest after years of Labour domination,”

reflecting the tone from local Green campaigners after the count.

How large was voter turnout in Waltham Forest?

The turnout for the local election was reported at 42.08% by Waltham Forest Council, according to local coverage of the count.

Did the Green success in Waltham Forest form part of a wider pattern across London?

Yes. National and London media coverage noted that the Greens achieved several major gains across the capital in the same round of local elections, including taking control in Lewisham and making significant advances in Hackney, with the party described as becoming the largest force in multiple former Labour strongholds.

Which wards produced breakthrough Green victories?

The count coverage named specific ward successes where Greens topped results and displaced Labour candidates — for example, candidates such as Liz Biggs, Solène Fabios and Rosie Rowlands won key seats with several thousand votes each in contested wards, while some Labour candidates finished well behind, illustrating the scale of the swing in particular areas.

How did local media and national outlets describe the scale of the shift?

Local outlets, including the Waltham Forest Echo and the North London reporting, described the result as a “historic win” and a “stunning upset”, while broader London reporting placed the outcome in the context of a wider Green surge across the capital that removed Labour control from multiple councils.

What immediate steps follow a change of control on the council?

Local reporting noted that the incoming Green administration would now determine who will lead the council and set out its priorities for the coming council term, with negotiations and internal decisions expected over the following week as the new majority prepares to form an administration.

Were there conflicting figures reported about seat totals in different outlets?

Some outlets reported variations in prior seat totals for Labour (for example, references to Labour holding 32 seats in one account and 44 in another context), but all coverage agreed the result was a substantial loss for Labour and a historic first majority for the Greens in Waltham Forest.

What did political commentators say about the significance of these local results?

Analysts and polling commentary in the run‑up to the elections had forecast possible Green gains in multiple boroughs, and national outlets noted the results as part of a broader trend that could reshape local politics in parts of London traditionally held by Labour.

Who will lead the council under the new Green administration?

At the time of reporting, local Green councillors were set to meet to formalise leadership and cabinet roles for the council; media reports emphasised that the party would decide its leadership in the immediate aftermath of the count.

Are there legal or attribution notes about the statements quoted in reporting?

Where direct quotations were given, local media attributed remarks to named Green councillors and local party figures during the count and in post‑count statements, and national outlets attributed analysis and context to named reporters and commentators covering the London results.

What was the scale of the Green advance elsewhere in London on the same night?

Coverage from the BBC and other national titles placed the Greens’ successes in Lambeth, Lewisham, Hackney and other boroughs as part of a significant reordering of some London councils, with the Greens becoming the largest party in several areas and winning mayoral contests in places where they had not previously held power.

Are there precise vote tallies available for winning Green candidates?

Local count reports gave individual vote totals in wards where Greens won; for example, Waltham Forest Echo reported winning tallies for named Green candidates receiving in excess of two thousand votes in key ward contests, while some Labour candidates in the same wards polled substantially fewer votes.

What do the results tell us about party organisation at local level?

Multiple local reports observed that the Greens ran effective local campaigns in targeted wards, converting growing local support into council seats, while Labour’s long‑standing dominance in Waltham Forest was decisively eroded at the ballot box.

Background of this development

Waltham Forest had been under Labour control for 16 years, making the borough a long‑standing Labour stronghold in north‑east London; a combination of targeted Green campaigning, voter dissatisfaction with established parties in some wards, and broader momentum for the Greens across parts of the capital contributed to the upset, according to local and national reporting.

Prediction

The change of control is likely to produce shifts in local policy priorities and council decision‑making — for example, the Greens may emphasise environmental measures, planning and transport policies, and community‑level initiatives that reflect their manifesto commitments, while former Labour councillors will now sit in opposition and scrutinise the new administration.