The Conservatives have retained control of Hillingdon Council following the local elections, while Reform UK gained four councillors. It will be a sixth consecutive term for the Tories in the borough.
Labour saw a large drop off in their vote, losing seven seats across the borough but comfortably remaining the official opposition. The Greens also had modest success, gaining their first councillor in West Drayton following several recounts.
Reform UK had expected to perform much better, potentially becoming the second largest party in the borough. The party failed to win target seats including Colham and Cowley, home of Theo's Cafe and the controversy around the awarding of a lease to a former Tory councillor.
The Conservative Council Leader, Cllr Ian Edwards, won re-election in Eastcote. However, ahead of the count, he announced his intention to stand down as leader, despite telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) just one week ago that he was "cautiously optimistic" he would be council leader after the election.
After securing a majority, he told the LDRS: "The people of Hillingdon have once again entrusted Hillingdon Conservatives to lead the borough for the next four years. Labour's campaign collapsed, and residents clearly rejected Reform and the division they brought into local politics.
"Nigel Farage claimed Reform would take Hillingdon, yet they have ended up with fewer than a handful of seats. Residents have chosen experienced local leadership, and it is now our responsibility to get on with the job of delivering the services they have entrusted us with, always putting residents first."
Veteran councillors Peter Curling and Janet Gardener lost their attempt at re-election, this time under the banner of the Hayes Independent Party. The group failed to win any councillors, losing all four de-selected Labour councillors who sat for the party prior to the vote.
Breakdown by party compared to 2022
- Conservatives - 30 (-)
- Labour - 16 (-7)
- Reform UK - 4 (+4)
- Greens - 1 (+1)
- Independent - 1 (+1)
The Hillingdon West ward did not vote due to the death of the Reform candidate Shaun Cooling prior to polling day. An election will be scheduled in due course in this ward. In 2022 the Conservatives won both seats.
