In the East London borough of Newham, where less than a third of people voted in the previous local elections, residents say they are "fed up" with the political system. Newham recorded a turnout of just 29.1 per cent when London's 32 councils last went to the polls in May 2022, the second-lowest in the capital behind Barking and Dagenham (25.3 per cent).
Decades of Disengagement
Voter apathy has been a persistent theme in Newham for decades. During the 2016 EU referendum, which saw 72.21 per cent of the UK population vote, Newham recorded London's lowest turnout at only 59 per cent. S Hussain, a Forest Gate resident who preferred not to give his first name, believes this trend stems from elected officials failing to deliver on promises.
"Newham hasn't changed for the last 30 years, so I don't see anything changing this time around," he told MyLondon. "Whoever comes in says they'll do this or that, then nothing is done. A few years back we were told they would retarmac all of Woodgrange Road and Upton Lane, but only a small part of Woodgrange Lane near Forest Gate station has been done. People are fed up here. New councillors get elected but they don't have the funds to change anything."
Deprivation and Turnout
National studies have found a strong link between higher deprivation and lower voter turnout, suggesting poorer people feel less involved in Britain's political system. A 2025 government study ranked Newham as London's most deprived borough and the seventh most deprived in the UK. Barking and Dagenham, traditionally the capital's lowest turnout area, was London's second-most deprived in the same study.
Ilyas Muhammad, a travel agent near Forest Gate station, believes confusion also plays a role. "Many people have no idea who to pick," he said. "If there's a gathering in our community and someone says they're voting Labour, they might get the reply 'do you know what they've done in government?' Or if they say Conservative, they'll get 'don't you know what they stand for?' Many people don't feel there's a party that truly represents them."
Labour's Grip Under Threat
Newham Council has been dominated by the Labour Party since 1971, but this majority could be challenged. Factors include the diminishing popularity of the national party, a 2025 scandal involving a corrupt council worker who fraudulently allocated social housing to ineligible people, and the impact of Labour's Israel-Palestine foreign policy on the borough's large Muslim population (34.8 per cent). PollCheck predicts Labour's current 56 out of 66 councillors will drop to 33, losing overall control.
Alex De Dea, owner of Giovanna's Deli & Wine on Woodgrange Road, plans to abandon Labour. "I think I'll vote for the Green Party this year; we've been let down by Labour especially," he said. "Running a small independent business has been really difficult due to the national insurance increase. I have nine employees, and the tax change is equal to paying for one extra person. It's overall the lack of proper options which makes the Greens a better choice. I've never seen it this hard for businesses throughout my 13 years living in Newham."
Independent Appeal
Kaleem Syed, speaking on Upton Lane, finds the Newham Independents attractive. "I've not decided yet, but Mehmood Mirza is who I'm thinking about for Mayor. He's talking about parking, making two hours free, and making it easier for visitors to park up. Lots of people who nip into a shop for five minutes are hit with a hefty fine, which is unfair."
Traditionally a Labour stronghold, the party now faces threats from independents attracting Muslim voters in Redbridge, while the local Aspire party has controlled Tower Hamlets since 2022.
