Key Points
- Newham Independents won a landslide victory in the Plaistow South by-election, historically a Labour stronghold since 1919.
- Labour’s loss in Plaistow South signals growing troubles amid governance crises, financial difficulties, and internal party strife in Newham.
- The borough faces a £40.6 million overspend and has seen a 9% rise in Council Tax to address budget issues.
- Newham’s housing services received a damaging C4 rating for “very serious failings” requiring fundamental change.
- Frequent changes in the council’s chief executive since 2018, with three permanent and three interim appointments.
- The UK government issued a “best value” notice over concerns about Newham’s governance and culture.
- Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz announced her resignation in July 2025; her successor has been selected by Labour NEC.
- Labour’s response to the Israeli attack on Gaza in 2023 worsened tensions in a borough with a significant Muslim population and pro-Palestine sentiment.
- Labour has lost multiple by-elections and councillors have defected or been suspended, weakening party control.
- Md Nazrul Islam of Newham Independents won Plaistow South with 44.7% of the vote, double Labour’s Asheem Singh.
- Other competitors included Reform UK, Greens, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats, who all lost vote share.
- The by-election highlighted local issues of housing, Council Tax rise, parking permits charges, and bulky waste fees.
- The 2026 Newham mayoral contest will pit Labour’s Forhad Hussain against Newham Independents’ leader Mehmood Mirza.
What is the significance of the Plaistow South by-election result?
As reported by Lewis Baston of On London, the Newham Independents secured a landslide victory in the Plaistow South by-election held last Thursday, marking a historic shift in a ward Labour has governed consistently since 1919, initially under the County Borough of West Ham and since 1965 as part of the London Borough of Newham. This defeat marks the latest challenge to Labour’s decades-long dominance in Newham, a fortress where it once won every council seat from 2010 to 2018 and held the mayoralty since 2002.
Labour candidate Asheem Singh received 436 votes (21.3%), while Md Nazrul Islam for Newham Independents won decisively with 913 votes (44.7%). This represented a 34-percentage point drop in Labour’s share. Lazar Monu for Reform UK came third with 16.1%, followed by the Greens, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats, all losing vote share. Turnout stood at a low 23.1%.
Why is Labour struggling in Newham despite its historical dominance?
The Labour party’s struggles stem from multiple overlapping crises. Newham has been grappling with serious financial issues leading to a £40.6 million overspend, prompting an emergency 9% Council Tax rise and warnings of tough spending cuts ahead. This financial strain partly results from high demand for temporary housing. Furthermore, the Regulator of Social Housing assigned Newham a damning C4 rating for “very serious failings” in housing services that call for fundamental changes.
Leadership instability has compounded these woes; since 2018, three permanent and three interim chief executives have served, affecting governance continuity. In May 2025, the UK government issued a “best value” notice expressing concerns over Newham’s governance and organisational culture. Paul Martin, appointed chief executive in July, warned councilors that government-appointed commissioners taking control over the council was a “plausible outcome”.
What political and social factors influenced the by-election outcome?
Labour’s difficulties have been exacerbated by internal party strife. Ahead of the 2022 council elections, the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) directly intervened to re-select mayor Rokhsana Fiaz. Though Labour retained a large majority in 2022, mayoral vote share fell significantly from 73.4% in 2018 to 56.2%.
Nationally and locally, Labour’s response to the Israeli attack on Gaza in October 2023 further strained relations. Newham’s population is about 35% Muslim and an even larger share of young, left-wing, and pro-Palestine residents. This contributed to reduced Labour support in the general election, with Newham Independents polling 20% in West Ham & Beckton, and an 18% vote for a Gaza Independent candidate in East Ham, coinciding with Labour’s 26-point vote share fall compared to 2019.
Labour losses began before Gaza’s prominence in UK politics, with Newham Independents capturing seats in Boleyn ward in July 2023 and Plaistow North in November 2023. Currently, nine councillors do not take Labour’s whip, the highest since the mid-1970s.
Who was Neil Wilson and how did his death trigger the by-election?
The by-election followed the death of Labour councillor Neil Wilson who had represented Plaistow South and its predecessor ward since 1994. Known as “father of the council,” Wilson was respected for his long service, mentorship, and cabinet roles in health, adult social care, and equalities under Mayors Rokhsana Fiaz and Sir Robin Wales. His colleague Sarah Ruiz praised his dedication and public service, highlighting his popularity across political lines.
What were the key issues that shaped voter choice in the by-election?
Md Nazrul Islam, speaking to Newham Voices post-victory, cited local concerns as primary drivers in the campaign: housing availability and conditions, the Council Tax hike, parking permit emission charges dubbed the “parking tax,” and bulky waste fees. Broader issues such as Gaza, national government dissatisfaction, and Newham’s governance crisis provided background context but Islam’s platform focused on practical, local matters. Despite perceptions, the Newham Independents appear more as a catch-all party than one strictly left-wing, blending various interests without a governing record.
What does this by-election mean for Newham’s political future?
The Plaistow South defection is highly significant for Labour’s grip on Newham, a borough it has controlled since the early 20th century. Labour’s candidate for the May 2026 Newham mayoral election is Forhad Hussain, a former councillor and cabinet member under Sir Robin Wales. The Newham Independents, led by Mehmood Mirza—who defeated Labour in Boleyn ward in 2023—will provide stiff competition.
Labour’s decades-long dominance now faces substantial challenges both from external opposition and internal fractures. The Plaistow South result highlights a maturing political alternative in Newham and illustrates the risk Labour faces of losing its control, making the May 2026 election one to watch closely.
