The Labour Party has retained control of Islington Council but suffered a significant blow in the 2026 local elections, losing 12 seats to the Green Party. The Greens achieved a historic breakthrough, increasing their representation from three to 19 councillors in the North London borough.
Labour Holds On with Reduced Majority
Labour now commands 32 seats in the chamber, down from 44 previously. The party celebrated holding the borough, but the reduced majority reflects a shift in voter sentiment. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Una O'Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, said: 'We have a record to be proud of locally, and residents know they can trust us to be a fair, responsible and ambitious council. We are proud to have Islington put their trust in us once again. Our manifesto has set out how we will tackle the issues that matter most locally, and we cannot wait to get started in delivering.'
Green Party Surge
The Green Party made deep inroads into Labour's traditional strongholds, winning seats in Highbury, Tufnell Park, Tollington, and Mildmay wards. The party's leader of the opposition, Councillor Benali Hamdache, described the result as 'fantastic' and a 'breakthrough.' He added: 'This reflects everything we heard in conversations during the campaign. A larger group means that we can punch harder and higher to give residents what they need and deserve. This was a very competitive election and we're incredibly proud of all our new colleagues who achieved this record-breaking result.'
Key Losses for Labour
Labour's finance chief, Councillor Flora Williamson, was defeated in Tollington, highlighting the scale of the party's losses. Across the capital, Labour suffered heavy defeats, with the Green Party surging in inner London especially. The Islington result mirrors a wider trend of declining Labour support in urban areas.
The elections saw 263 candidates from five main parties and several independents contest 17 electoral wards. The full results by ward are available in the council's official announcement.
