Local Elections 2026: Labour hold on to Merton Council.
Merton Citizens held a Pre-Election Assembly at Wimbledon College on Monday 27 April 2026.
This News Update covers the content from the event, and latest news following the London local elections held on 7th May.
Key headlines are:
- Labour hold on to Merton Council.
- Councillor Ross Garrod (Labour, re-elected to Longthornton ward)
- Councillor Anthony Fairclough (LibDem, re-elected to Wimbledon Town & Dundonald ward)
- Councillor Daniel Holden (Conservative, re-elected to Hillside Ward
On 27 April at Wimbledon College on Edgehill, Merton Citizens held their thrid pre-election Assembly open for Merton voters to hear from standing councillors, now candidates for re-election, on issues of key importance to the pubic of the borough.
There were representatives from all 14 members of Merton Citizens and a total of 97 in the main hall as the Assembly got under way when each of the three candidates from the leading parties were challenged on five specific ‘asks’, each one agreed after an extensive Listening Campaign among constituents of member organisations.
The three political party leaders at the Assembly, all election candidates, were from the Labour (Ross Garrod, leader of the council), Conservative (Daniel Holden) and the Liberal Democrat (Anthony Fairclough, leader of the opposition) parties and Merton Citizens achieved a clean sweep of agreement to all of the asks.
Agreements from all of the three candidates were:
- To work with Merton Citizens to tackle low pay, poor housing and digital exclusion
- To raise the number of Living Wage employers in LBM 10% year on year
- To make a Living Hours plan for the borough to prevent Living Wage employers from reducing the number of hours worked to compensate
- To work with the Merton Centre for Independent Living (MCIL) and others to make an action plan to overcome digital exclusion
- Tentative agreement to address the asks on the five basic needs for temporary accommodation: 1. access to WiFi signal; 2. laundry facilities; 3. adequate storage; 4. food preparation facilities; 5. a named officer and a phone number for support with repairs and case updates.
There were powerful testimonies from Rev Mark Eminson from Merton Priory, Fatima from MCIL, and Sade Waltersfrom the YMCA.
In the election results of 7 May, on a turnout of 45.1% and with 57 seats being voted for in 20 wards, Labour held onto control of the council and all three candidates who came to the Assembly were re-elected. Overall, Labour (32 seats) and the Liberal Democrats (19 seats) gained three seats and the Conservatives (4 seats) lost four seats.
Useful information on Merton Citizens:
Merton Citizens
Merton Citizens is an alliance of 14 faith, education and community institutions. Since founding in 2018 we have worked together for a common purpose – the betterment of our borough. Over the past year Merton Citizens members have spoken to local people to find the issues that we care about and determine what needs to change. Our members are: Faith in Action, Merton Centre for Independent Living, Merton Priory Team, Mitcham Salvation Army, Mitcham Parish Church, Raynes Park Community Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St Barnabas Mitcham, St Mark’s Mitcham, St Matthew’s Raynes Park, Trinity United Reformed Church, Wimbledon College, Wimbledon Salvation Army, YMCA Wimbledon.
For information contact: Dermot Bryers (dermot.bryers@citizensuk.org)
Merton Citizens is a part of Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s largest and most diverse people-powered alliance, bringing together everyday people and local organisations to build a fairer society. Founded in 1989, it includes over 600 member organisations, has trained 4,000+ community leaders, secured 16,500+ Living Wage employers and won hundreds of campaigns.
Citizens UK creates change through broad-based community organising, connecting schools, universities, faith groups, community organisations and unions so they can work together locally to achieve change.
For information contact: Pete Brierley (peter.brierley@citizensuk.org)
www. citizensuk.org
Listening Campaign
Listening to citizens underpins our work in Merton. From February to December 2025 we ran a Merton Citizens Listening Campaign, bringing together over 6000 residents, faith groups, schools and community organisations to discuss key issues such as housing, mental health refugee welcome and the rising cost of living. In a diverse and fast-changing borough, genuine democracy starts by having conversations and building the relationships needed to create practical, local solutions for a fairer Merton.