Labour councillor Lizzy Dobres has resigned from Wandsworth Council, triggering a by-election that could tip control of the authority in favour of the Conservatives. Dobres, who represented Trinity ward, stepped down after four years to take a politically restricted job.
By-election could decide council control
The by-election for Trinity ward will be held in the coming weeks. If the Conservatives win, they would gain a two-seat majority, giving them full control of the council. Currently, they govern as a minority administration with support from Independent councillor Malcolm Grimston under a confidence and supply arrangement.
Labour's loss in May elections
In the May local elections, Labour lost overall control of the south London borough. The Conservatives won 29 seats, up seven from 2022, while Labour secured 28 seats, down seven. The Trinity ward, represented by two councillors, saw a shift as former Labour councillor Jack Mayorcas lost to Conservative Kirsten Botting by 64 votes. Dobres held her seat by 195 votes.
Dobres' statement on resignation
Dobres said: "Serving as a councillor for Trinity has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and stepping down is not a decision I ever wanted to make. I had every intention of serving my full term. However, after a prolonged period of uncertainty in my day job whilst pregnant, I have accepted a politically restricted role. That means I can’t serve as a councillor while working in this job."
Conservative leadership change
Dobres' resignation came on the same day Conservative councillor Aled Richards-Jones announced he was stepping down as council leader due to increasing work commitments. His successor is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Impact on council governance
The Conservatives currently rely on Independent councillor Malcolm Grimston for key votes, including the annual budget and votes of no confidence. Winning the by-election would eliminate the need for this agreement, giving the Conservatives a two-seat majority to control the council for the next four years.
Tooting Labour announced Dobres' resignation in an email to members on July 10, noting she had "worked tirelessly for the community" since 2022, including leading work on violence against women and girls. The council has not yet announced the by-election date.
