Local elections 2022: Labour victorious in Wandsworth as Tories lose control of flagship council

The Conservatives have lost former leader Margaret Thatcher’s ‘favourite council’ Wandsworth to Labour in a significant boost for Sir Keir Starmer’s party.

The south London council had been held by the Conservatives for more than forty years, turning blue in 1978 just before Mrs Thatcher’s election as prime minister.

A Labour source said: “Boris Johnson losing Wandsworth is monumental. This was the Tories’ jewel in the crown.

“Voters in Wandsworth have put their trust in the change Keir Starmer’s Labour represents.”

The authority, known for its low taxes, was considered a “definite loss” by Conservative insiders soon after the polls closed in Scotland, Wales and many parts of England at 22:00 on Thursday evening.

In securing Conservative stronghold, Labour won both seats in the new Wandle and Trinity wards, with shadow minister Rosena Allin-Khan and London Mayor Sadiq Khan celebrated together as the results came in.

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Trinity was seen as a key area that the party wanted to win as it was the Conservatives most marginal ward on the estimated new boundaries.

© Sky News 2022