Residents of Merton will soon decide whether they stick with the long-serving Labour administration or take the borough in a new political direction. All major parties are fielding candidates across the borough as voters head to the polls on May 7 when local elections take place across London and many parts of the UK.
Candidates are standing across all 20 wards, representing parties including the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Greens. Reform UK is also increasing its presence across the borough, standing a total of 57 candidates in the local elections.
Labour has held overall control in Merton since 2014 and has had Ross Garrod as the council leader since 2022. The 57-seat council is currently composed of 30 Labour councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, seven Conservatives, two Merton Park Ward Independent Residents, and one other independent.
Despite the current Labour dominance, Professor Tony Travers, of the London School of Economics, believes the Liberal Democrat opposition has a strong chance of winning control of the borough, having already taken the Wimbledon parliamentary seat from the Conservatives in the 2024 General Election. He told the BBC: "Now the Lib Dems see this as their number one hope for further extending their south-west reach a bit further into London."
Parties have now released their local manifestos, covering areas as varied as local policing and crime to housing and green spaces. Here is a summary of what all the major parties are promising, should they take power next Thursday.
Conservatives
Cost of Living and Council Tax
- Support a council tax rebate
- Keep council tax low
- Reduce residents' parking permit fees to £50 per year
- Fund these changes by addressing council welfare spending and procurement waste
Local Economy and Town Centres
- Revitalise town centres
- Support cleaner and safer streets
- Focus on reducing pressures on local business and motorists
- Support local police and keep town centres safe
Environment
- Improve parks and green spaces
- Plant more trees
- Increase rollout of EV charging points
- Stand against the Wimbledon Park expansion by All England Tennis Club
Services and Spending Priorities
- Reduce wasteful spending in council operations
- Redirect savings into frontline priorities such as local services and improvements
Labour
Cost of Living
- Keep council tax as low as possible
Employment
- Offer job training and advice for all residents
- Continue as a London Living Wage employer
Leisure
- Maintain free swimming for under-16s and over-65s
Streets and Environment
- Introduce free bulky waste collection
- Keep pop-up tips
- Make graffiti removal permanent
Parks and Green Spaces
- Upgrade playgrounds and sports facilities
- Create pocket parks and woodlands
- Improve planting in high streets
Public Safety
- Increase safer streets officers
- Expand CCTV use
- Grow the Safe Havens network
Policing
- Work to bring a new police base to the borough
Transparency
- Hold regular meetings
- Share contact details to improve communication with residents
Liberal Democrats
Cost of Living
- Keep council tax low while maintaining support
- Review recent service charge increases
Local Economy
- Regenerate Morden town centre
- Bring empty shops back into use
- Support businesses
- Improve the night-time economy
Transport
- Explore new public transport options
- Improve station accessibility
- Consider projects such as light rail or new rail stations
Health
- Expand access to health services, including a breast cancer screening centre and more local diagnostic services
- Support St Helier Hospital
Policing and Safety
- Oppose police counter closures
- Introduce community safety hubs
Environment and Streets
- Improve street cleaning
- Introduce large skips
- Tackle fly-tipping
- Expand EV charging
- Stand against the Wimbledon Park expansion by All England Tennis Club
Highways
- Enforce weight limits
- Add new pedestrian crossings
Education and Families
- Repair schools
- Extend library hours
- Support family centres
- Improve social care transitions
Housing
- Build modular homes, particularly for temporary accommodation
Green Party
Accessibility
- Improve access with ramps, handrails, benches, shelters, better wheelchair charging, and more public toilets
- Tackle pavement parking
Environment
- Review transport strategies
- Plant more trees
- Support walking and cycling
- Pursue net zero by 2030
- Explore limits on diesel vehicles
- Assess schemes such as ULEZ and LTNs
- Phase out use of glyphosates
Crime
- Focus on prevention by expanding access to affordable sports and activities
Education
- Improve recruitment and retention of school staff
Energy and Housing
- Improve home insulation
- Work with housing providers
- Explore a council-run energy company
- Offer support for household energy upgrades
Diversity and Inclusion
- Promote equality
- Support refugees and asylum seekers
- Commit to ethical investments
Health and Care
- Improve access to NHS services
- Campaign for free adult social care
Housing
- Increase affordable and social housing
- Enforce targets
- Bring empty homes back into use
Transport
- Protect concessionary travel
- Improve bus links
- Support accessible local transport options
Local Economy
- Support fair business costs
- Diversify high streets
- Promote low-emission delivery and transport
Waste and Recycling
- Tackle fly-tipping
- Improve waste services
- Expand recycling options
- Oppose increased incineration
Reform UK
Environment
- Move away from net zero and focus on lowering energy costs
- Protect parks, ponds, and natural spaces
- Encourage biodiversity by planting more trees
- Create a cycle route linking Wimbledon, Merton, and Mitcham
Council Services
- Cut wasteful local government expenditure
- Provide efficient services
- Push back against cuts to key services
Council Tax
- Stand against any council tax increases
Streets and Repairs
- Improve street cleaning
- Tackle fly-tipping
- Fix potholes faster
Crime
- Take a zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour
- Support police with enforcement of the law
- Back the use of stop and search
Planning
- Support sensible development that works for residents
- Resist car-free developments where parking is needed
- Support local services before bringing more high-rise developments
- Support Wimbledon Concert Hall plans
- Renegotiate All England Tennis Club plan and get council to enforce restrictive covenants
Services
- Support local NHS services by examining council support and holding NHS leadership accountable
Local Economy
- Oppose taxes that discourage enterprise
- Work with local businesses
- Support Merton high streets
Transport
- Review and remove unnecessary traffic restrictions
- Remove 20mph limits and return to a 30mph default
- Consult on the impact of ULEZ and seek changes to anti-driver policies
Merton Park Ward Independent Residents
Morden Regeneration
- Support efforts to transform Morden
- Continue to keep a close eye on development
- Ensure development is at a human scale and allows for those wishing to downsize
Merton Park Suburbs
- Defend the green, open character of the area
- Protect it from unneighbourly developments
- Ensure Merton Park is included with restrictions on HMOs
Local Improvements
- Secure more funding for essential maintenance and improvements in the ward
Council Tax
- Ensure value for money for residents from council tax
Accessibility
- Ensure pavements are suitable for wheelchairs and children's buggies
Police
- Continue good working relationship with the local police team
- Ensure they are aware of local challenges
