The Liberal Democrats achieved a commanding victory in the Sutton local elections, winning 51 of the council's 55 seats and eliminating the Conservatives as the main opposition. The landslide result maintains the Lib Dems' near 40-year control of the council, which they first secured in 1990.
Election Results
The results were announced in the early hours of Friday, May 8, at the count held at Westcroft Leisure Centre in Carshalton. The Lib Dems gained 22 seats, while the Conservatives lost all 20 of their seats, including several long-serving councillors who were unseated.
New Opposition
Reform UK replaced the Conservatives as the main opposition after winning their first two council seats in the St Helier West ward. In Beddington, the Independent Residents lost their majority, with only Nick Mattey retaining his seat alongside two Liberal Democrat councillors. Mattey, a former Lib Dem councillor himself, said on Facebook: "I can assure everybody in Beddington that, despite the fact that I'm on my own, I will give this 100%. It is a privilege to be elected and I treat it as a great honour."
Other Parties
In Hackbridge, Labour retained one representative, Dave Tchil. The Greens and the Christian Peoples Party failed to win any seats.
Council Leader's Reaction
Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of Sutton Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This was a historic night. The people of Sutton have put their trust in the Liberal Democrats once again to keep our borough moving forward — this time with the largest group of Liberal Democrat councillors ever elected across Sutton. Faced with a choice between vision and division, voters here backed the Lib Dem plan to deliver the brightest possible future for Sutton. In these difficult times, I am so proud that Sutton chose the politics of hope, community and ambition once again. Our larger-than-ever team of local champions will now get stuck in, working hard every single day to deliver results for our community."
New Council Composition
The new council comprises 51 Liberal Democrats, two Reform UK councillors, one Labour councillor, and one independent. Voter turnout in Sutton was 46.78%, up from the previous election in 2022.
