2022 Redbridge London Borough Council election explained

Election Name:2022 Redbridge Council election
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2018 Redbridge London Borough Council election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2026 Redbridge London Borough Council election
Next Year:2026
Seats For Election:All 63 seats to Redbridge Council
Election Date:5 May 2022
Image1:CouncillorJasAthwal (cropped).jpg
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Seats1:58
Seat Change1:7
Popular Vote1:110,061
Percentage1:58.4%
Swing1:0.0%
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Seats2:5
Seat Change2:7
Popular Vote2:61,672
Percentage2:32.7%
Swing2:2.6%
Map Size:300px
council control
Posttitle:Subsequent council control
Before Party:Labour Party (UK)
Majority Seats:32
Image2 Size:115x50px

The 2022 Redbridge London Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2022. All 63 members of Redbridge London Borough Council were elected. The elections took place alongside local elections in the other London boroughs and elections to local authorities across the United Kingdom.

In the previous election in 2018, the Labour Party maintained its control of the council, winning 51 out of the 63 seats with the Conservative Party forming the council opposition with the remaining twelve seats.

Background

History

The thirty-two London boroughs were established in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. They are the principal authorities in Greater London and have responsibilities including education, housing, planning, highways, social services, libraries, recreation, waste, environmental health and revenue collection. Some of the powers are shared with the Greater London Authority, which also manages passenger transport, police and fire.[1]

Since its formation, Redbridge has generally been under Conservative control or no overall control. The Labour Party won its first majority on the council in the 2014 election, winning 35 seats, while the Conservatives won 25, and the Liberal Democrats won three. In the most recent election in 2018, Labour extended its majority to win 51 seats, with 58.4% of the vote across the borough, while the Conservatives won the remaining 12 seats on 35.3% of the vote.[2]

Council term

In August 2020, Stuart Bellwood, a Labour councillor for Seven Kings, died. He had served as a councillor since 2002.[3] A Labour councillor for Loxford ward, Chaudhary Mohammed Iqbal, resigned in October 2020 citing health reasons.[4] He was later found guilty of electoral fraud for giving a false address.[5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by-elections for both seats were delayed until 6 May 2021 alongside the 2021 London mayoral election and London Assembly election. Labour held both seats, with Sadhia Warraich winning Loxford and Pushpita Gupta winning Seven Kings.[6]

In April 2021, Robin Turbefield, a Conservative councillor for Bridge ward, defected to Reform UK due to his opposition to lockdown measures in response to COVID-19.[7] In November 2021, Khaled Noor, a councillor for Barkingside, had the Labour whip removed due to his conduct.[8] [9]

Electoral process

Redbridge, like other London borough councils, elects all of its councillors at once every four years. The previous election took place in 2018. The election will take place by multi-member first-past-the-post voting, with each ward being represented by two or three councillors. Electors will have as many votes as there are councillors to be elected in their ward, with the top two or three being elected.

All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in London aged 18 or over were entitled to vote in the election. People who lived at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, were entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities.[10] Voting in-person at polling stations took place from 7:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters were able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.

Previous council composition

After 2018 electionBefore 2022 election
PartySeatsPartySeats
5150
1211
1
1

Ward results

Candidates shown below are confirmed candidates.[11] An asterisk * indicates an incumbent Councillor seeking re-election.

Wanstead Village

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The essential guide to London local government London Councils. 2021-10-10. www.londoncouncils.gov.uk.
  2. Web site: Holder. Josh. Local council elections 2018 – results in full. 2021-10-10. The Guardian. en.
  3. Web site: Chacko. Roy. 2020-08-25. Tributes paid to ‘maverick’ councillor and ‘champion of Seven Kings’ Stuart Bellwood. 2021-10-20. Ilford Recorder. en-UK.
  4. Web site: Chacko. Roy. 2020-10-09. Redbridge councillor awaiting electoral fraud trial resigns amidst cabinet shake-up. 2021-10-20. Ilford Recorder. en-UK.
  5. Web site: reporter. Victoria Munro, Local democracy. 2021-01-04. Former councillor jailed for electoral fraud said he wanted to help people. 2021-10-20. Ilford Recorder. en-UK.
  6. Web site: Boyle. Caislin. 2021-05-10. New councillors for Loxford and Seven Kings react to by-election wins. 2021-10-20. Ilford Recorder. en-UK.
  7. Web site: Service. Victoria Munro, Local Democracy Reporting. 2021-04-23. Tory councillor defects to Reform UK. 2021-10-20. Ilford Recorder. en-UK.
  8. Web site: Redbridge Labour councillor has whip removed after ‘poor conduct'. 2021-11-13. East London and West Essex Guardian Series. en.
  9. Web site: Harpin. Lee. Councillor has whip removed after alleged ‘offensive, misogynistic, antisemitic’ rant. 2021-11-13. jewishnews.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  10. Web site: How the elections work London Councils. 2021-09-14. www.londoncouncils.gov.uk.
  11. Web site: Redbridge - Election notices . 2022-04-12 . www.redbridge.gov.uk.