2018 Merton London Borough Council election explained

Election Name:2018 Merton London Borough Council election
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2014 Merton London Borough Council election
Previous Year:2014
Election Date:3 May 2018
Next Election:2022 Merton London Borough Council election
Next Year:2022
Seats For Election:All 60 council seats on Merton London Borough Council
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Last Election1:36 seats, 49.6%
Seats1:34
Seat Change1:2
Popular Vote1:83,890
Percentage1:46.9%
Swing1:2.7%
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Last Election2:20 seats, 31.6%
Seats2:17
Seat Change2:3
Popular Vote2:56,223
Percentage2:31.5%
Swing2:0.1%
Party4:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Last Election4:1 seat, 8.9%
Seats4:6
Seat Change4:5
Popular Vote4:26,158
Percentage4:14.6%
Swing4:5.7%
Party5:Merton Park Ward Residents Association
Last Election5:3 seats, 3.7%
Seats5:3
Popular Vote5:5,898
Percentage5:3.3%
Swing5:0.4%
Council leader
Posttitle:Council leader after
election
Before Election:Stephen Alambritis
Before Party:Labour Party (UK)
After Election:Stephen Alambritis
After Party:Labour Party (UK)
Map Size:300px

Elections for the London Borough of Merton were held on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Merton London Borough Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England.

Campaign

In February 2018, Peter Walker, a former Labour councillor for Figges Marsh who was suspended by the party in October 2017, claimed that the local Labour Party was excluding supporters of the national party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, from becoming councillors.[1]

Labour pledged to complete the building of a new leisure centre, bring AFC Wimbledon's home grounds within Merton, consider the introduction of a landlord licensing scheme, establish targets for affordable housing and introduce 20 mph zones.[2]

The Conservatives pledged to reintroduce weekly street cleaning, increase mobile CCTV, deliver a masterplan for Wimbledon, regenerate Morden, establish a 24/7 anti-social behaviour hotline, rebuild St Helier Hospital, introduce borough-wide anti-idling measures and reintroduce webcasting of council meetings.[3]

The Liberal Democrats pledged to institute a target of 50% affordable housing in large developments, install more public bins and public drinking fountains, increase cycling infrastructure, introduce default 20 mph zones, make Raynes Park and Motspur Park railway stations fully accessible, replace the closed walk-in surgery in Mitcham, introduce a levy on planning developments to pay for local schools, scrap charges for the use of Council-owned parks and playing fields, develop incubator sites for start-ups and establish neighbourhood plans.[4]

A key issue during the campaign was the proposed closure of Wimbledon police station by the Labour Mayor of London. The Conservatives proposed to buy the police station, while the Liberal Democrats supported a legal action against the closure.[5] The legal action was brought by Paul Kohler, one of the successful Liberal Democrat candidates for Trinity in the election.[6]

Demolition of Merton Hall

A key issue during the campaign was the partial demolition of the historic Merton Hall in South Wimbledon, which was given planning permission by the council in September 2017.[7] Under the plans, the Elim Pentecostal Church would assume tenancy of Merton Hall after the year-long works, under the condition that the site could still be hired as a community space by local residents.[8] Elim Church's current High Path site would then become a Harris Federation school hosting 1,200 students from September 2020.

A petition opposing the plans and calling on Historic England to list Merton Hall attracted over 4,000 signatures.[9] The plans attracted national attention in March 2018 over concerns that Elim Church could seek to prevent LGBT groups from hiring Merton Hall.[10] The Conservatives opposed the demolition plans and pledged to end the demolition works immediately if elected; they also alleged that the demolition broke pre-election purdah rules, given that it was using public money on a contentious issue.[11] The Merton Park Ward Residents Association also expressed their regret over the council's plans; their councillors suggested alternative sites for the secondary school and questioned the extent of the demolition required.[12]

The demolition works began in April 2018. In the election, the ward of Abbey, in which Merton Hall is situated, returned one Conservative councillor.[13] After the election, responding to criticism of the plans, council leader Stephen Alambritis claimed that the council is building a brand new hall and not demolishing the existing one. Alambritis confirmed that two investigations were underway, one by the Local Government Ombudsman and another by Ernst and Young.[14]

Results

Labour retained its control of Merton Council, its majority reduced to four seats. The Conservatives gained two seats from Labour (one each in the wards of Cannon Hill and Abbey) and the Liberal Democrats gained five seats from the Conservatives (two in West Barnes, two in Dundonald and one in Trinity). The Merton Park Ward Residents Association maintained its three councillors in Merton Park.[15] By seat count, this was the best ever election result for the Liberal Democrats in the borough, and the first time they had held council positions outside the West Barnes ward.

Paul Kohler, who achieved significant recognition after leading a legal campaign against the proposed closure of Wimbledon police station,[16] [17] was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Trinity.[18] Two months after the election, his legal action resulted in a judgment that the decision to close the police station was unlawful.

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On 11 May 2018, it was announced that the council's cabinet would be reshuffled.[19] Mary Curtin, a Labour councillor for Lower Morden, was voted in as the council's new mayor at the Annual Council Meeting on 23 May 2018.[20]

Ward results

Cannon Hill

Following the resignation of Mark Kenny, a by-election was held on 20 June 2019 with the Liberal Democrats gaining the seat.

West Barnes

On 12 June 2020, Quilliam left the Liberal Democrats and joined the Labour Party.[21]

Wimbledon Park

By-elections

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Mark Kenny of the Labour Party.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Kelly Braund of the Labour Party.

Notes and references

NotesReferences

Notes and References

  1. News: Merton Labour accused of excluding pro-Corbyn members. 22 February 2018. South West Londoner. 14 May 2018. en-US.
  2. Web site: Pledges. Wimbledon Labour. en. 14 May 2018.
  3. Web site: Merton Conservatives 2018 Manifesto. Merton. en. 14 May 2018.
  4. News: A fresh start for Merton - 2018 local election manifesto. 8 April 2018. Merton Liberal Democrats. 14 May 2018. en.
  5. Web site: 'Evening Standard covers police station closure court case'.
  6. News: Wimbledon police station closure illegal. Ames. Jonathan. Gibb. Frances. 20 July 2018. The Times. 20 May 2019.
  7. Web site: 'Giving away Merton Hall a tragedy' - controversial planning application gets approved. 26 September 2017. Wimbledon Guardian. en. 14 May 2018.
  8. News: Campaigners continue fight as construction work begins on Merton Hall. Bond. George. 25 March 2018. South West Londoner. 14 May 2018. en-US.
  9. Web site: Residents and campaigners shocked as demolition starts on Merton Hall. 19 April 2018. Wimbledon Guardian. en. 14 May 2018.
  10. Web site: Merton hall faces partial demolition to make way for evangelical church. Booth. Robert. 11 March 2018. The Guardian. en. 14 May 2018.
  11. Web site: Demolition of Merton Hall against pre-election rules, say Conservatives. Jones. Sophie. 20 March 2018. Wimbledon Guardian. en. 14 May 2018.
  12. Web site: Local Issues. Merton Park Ward Residents Association. 14 May 2018.
  13. Web site: Councillors. 3 May 2018. democracy.merton.gov.uk. en. 5 May 2018.
  14. Web site: 'We are not demolishing Merton Hall' - Council leader defends plans. O'Connor. Tara. 11 May 2018. Wimbledon Guardian. en. 25 May 2018.
  15. Web site: Election Summary 2018. 3 May 2018. Merton Council. en. 5 May 2018.
  16. News: Victim fights 'unlawful' police closures. 6 June 2018. BBC News. 11 July 2018. en-GB.
  17. News: Academic left for dead by burglars pleads: don't shut police station. Pilat. Lauren. 18 September 2017. Evening Standard. 11 July 2018. en-GB.
  18. Web site: Man who campaigned against closure of Wimbledon police station after suffering brutal attack elected as Merton councillor. Krause. Riley. 8 May 2018. Wimbledon Guardian. en. 14 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Cabinet shake-up as councillors receive promotions. Krause. Riley. 11 May 2018. Wimbledon Guardian. en. 14 May 2018.
  20. Web site: Meet the Mayor of Merton. 21 May 2018. Wimbledon Guardian. 1 June 2018.
  21. 1271401218951258113. carlquilliam. After much deliberation I have today resigned my membership of the Lib Dems and applied to join @UKLabour… . 12 June 2020.