Hackney residents will vote in two elections on May 7, choosing both local councillors and the directly-elected Mayor. Labour currently controls the council, but the Green Party is mounting a strong challenge. Seven parties have released manifestos. Here are their core pledges.
Conservative Party
Mayoral candidate Tareke Gregg promises to review social housing allocation and push for 50-60% genuinely affordable homes. He would reallocate funds from Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) expansion to youth services and community safety. The party also pledges to remove LTNs and redesign roads to improve traffic flow.
Green Party
The Greens prioritize building council homes on council-owned land and using pension funds to buy back ex-council properties. They propose resident-led food co-operatives, a night market by 2030, and a public land ownership investigation. On crime, they want to pause Live Facial Recognition and adopt a holistic approach. Transport pledges include safe crossings, new parking permit structures based on vehicle size and emissions, and protected cycle lanes.
Hackney Independent Socialist Collective (HISC)
In a tactical pact with the Greens, HISC fights for rent caps, named housing officers, and in-house repairs. They propose a referendum on abolishing the directly-elected Mayor, support Palestinian rights, and call for divestment from Israeli arms firms. They also want to roll back Chatsworth Road closures, pause new LTNs, and campaign for free public transport.
Labour Party
Labour pledges to cut council tax for low-income residents, replace council homes lost to right to buy, and introduce rent-controlled homes for key workers. They aim to halve mobile phone theft by 2030, create two new special schools, and deliver a measurable mental health service for young people. On transport, they will install 3,000 EV charging points and increase enforcement around school streets.
Liberal Democrats
Mayoral candidate Eva Steinhardt promises to get more homes on the market to cut rent, cap high leasehold charges, and protect local police. She would use parking and traffic fine money to repair roads and pavements, and defend parks from development.
Reform UK
Reform UK pledges to audit unused council land for housing within six months, guarantee priority social housing for veterans and key workers, and unlock co-living spaces. They want to end Hackney's 'Borough of Sanctuary' status, crack down on crime hotspots, and review LTNs. They also propose repurposing unused spaces into innovation hubs with 3D printing and AI learning.
The local elections take place on Thursday, May 7. For more details, see the full manifestos on each party's website.
