Polling suggests the two parties could end up winning control of some borough councils at the local elections taking place on Thursday, 7th May, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Sir Sadiq Khan has vowed to work constructively with any Green or Reform-controlled councils that emerge in London following the local elections on Thursday, 7th May.

The latest survey by JL partners shows Zack Polanski’s insurgent Greens gaining the most votes in Hackney and Haringey, while running incumbent Labour councils close in Southwark, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth.

Nigel Farage’s party are polled to to take control in Havering, meanwhile, and put up strong challenges in Barking and Dagenham, as well as Bexley. They could also do well in Barnet.

The polling indicates that Labour, who go into the local elections controlling 21 of London’s 32 local authorities, could lose several town halls, leaving the capital as a patchwork quilt instead of a red wall.

Non-Labour councils will have powers to block certain mayoral decrees they disagree with, including refusing to implement low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), while battles over planning permission could intensify and lead to many more ‘call ins’ to City Hall.

Earlier this week Khan launched a fresh appeal to wavering Labour voters to stick with the party, suggesting having a Labour council work with him as a Labour mayor under a Labour government “can make all the difference” when it comes to public services in their area.

In an exclusive interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he also accepted that, whatever the outcome, he would work with the new batch of local leaders to continue to serve London.

“I’m there for all Londoners, which means representing all of London, whether you voted Labour, Conservative, Green, Lib Dem, Reform, or any party, big or small,” he said.

“Similarly, I try to work with all council leaders, whether you’re a council leader who’s from my party, or Conservative, or Lib Dem. Or a Green, or a Reform, going forward after May.

“It’s really important we come together as team London to work for the common good – and as long as I’m here, I’ll carry on working with politicians from all parties for the common good, which is our constituents.”

Despite being elected less than two years ago, Labour’s approval ratings across the country, including London, have fallen.

Many party insiders fear a wipe out on 7th May as millions of people go to the polls to elect their local representatives.

Labour MPs from across the UK are reportedly being urged to spend their evenings campaigning in London in a bid to limit the losses.

The Green Party, headed up by London Assembly member Zack Polanski, is thought to be focusing most of its resources in winning council seats in major cities. This includes London, where they finished second to Labour in many parliamentary constituencies at the 2024 General Election.

Reform UK, meanwhile, are hoping to take seats such as Havering – now represented on the London Assembly by former Tory Keith Prince – as they focus on the outer boroughs.

Khan admitted Labour could be in for a tough election night and urged Londoners not to use their vote on May 7 to “protest”.

“I’d say in a polite way, it’s really important to recognise the importance of having a good local council,” he added.

“You’ve got some great Labour councillors working really hard with me to deliver affordable housing, to deliver free school meals, to deliver youth clubs, but also working with the Labour government.

“People may have unhappiness about the lack of progress made in such a short period of time, 21 months of a Labour government, but I think a Labour government working with a Labour Mayor and a Labour council can make all the difference. I’d encourage all of you readers who live in London to vote based upon the service they’ve received from their local council.”

Labour figures are also preparing for a coup against the prime minister, should the party face an expected humiliation at the polls. It would likely see senior politicians, including Mayors and the devolved leaders, calling for Sir Keir Starmer to step down.

But Khan reiterated his support for the incumbent PM, saying: “He was elected in July 2024 on a mandate which is the manifesto by the British public and I’m looking forward to working with him as long as he’s prime minister.”

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