The Liberal Democrats have achieved a clean sweep in the Richmond Council elections, winning all 54 seats and eliminating all opposition, including the five Green Party councillors. The landslide victory has sparked concerns about the health of local democracy.
Landslide Victory for Lib Dems
Sir Ed Davey's party secured a third consecutive term in control of the South West London borough, adding five seats previously held by the Greens. The Lib Dems already held 49 seats before the election, after the Conservatives lost a by-election in January 2024. The party now holds every single seat on the council.
Twickenham and Richmond Lib Dems thanked voters on social media for trusting them to run the borough for another four years, pledging to make every vote count. The party stated: "To every voter, every volunteer, every canvasser, every delivery hero and every teller who stood outside the polling station. Thank you."
Greens Voice Concerns
Andrée Frieze, former Green Party Group Leader on the council, described the night as "difficult" for the local party. Although she was not standing for re-election, she expressed concern about the lack of opposition. "Having 54 councillors all from the same party, with no opposition to scrutinise them, is really bad for democracy. It's really bad for residents," she said.
Ms Frieze suggested that negative national news about the Greens in the run-up to the election may have influenced the result. However, she acknowledged the Lib Dems' strong campaign. "Lib Dems are very strong and they've run a really strong election campaign, so well done them at the end of the day," she added.
The Greens vowed to continue scrutinising the Lib Dem administration from outside the council chamber. Ms Frieze warned the Lib Dems against becoming "complacent" and promised to stand up for residents' rights, environmental protection, and social justice.
Election Results and Turnout
The Lib Dems secured 51.5% of the vote, far ahead of the Conservatives with 17.9%. The Greens received 16.1%, Reform UK 10%, and Labour 4.5%. Overall turnout in Richmond was 50.8%, up from 47.7% in 2022.
The Lib Dems fielded a full slate of 54 candidates, while Labour, Conservatives, and Greens also ran full slates. Reform UK put forward 45 candidates, and three independents contested seats.
Lib Dem Manifesto Pledges
The Lib Dems campaigned on a manifesto promising to "protect what matters most" by transforming council operations, focusing on early help and prevention, and using resources wisely. Key pledges included protecting vital services from government cuts, tackling the cost of living, leading on climate action, investing in early help for children and adults, and revitalising town centres and cultural life.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Twickenham and Richmond Lib Dems for further comment.
