Labour's grip on a West London council has been further weakened after two more councillors resigned from the party, branding the internal environment 'toxic' and the candidate selection process 'deeply flawed'.
The resignations of Councillor Riaz Gull and former Deputy Mayor, Councillor Harleen Atwal Hear, both representatives for Heston Central on Hounslow Council, mean they will now sit as independents.
A 'Toxic' Environment and Deselection Drama
Councillor Atwal Hear revealed she had already planned to stand down in 2026 but felt compelled to leave the party early. She did not participate in a selection interview, stating the atmosphere within Hounslow Labour was so unbearable she could not continue until the elections in May 2026.
"Working for Hounslow Labour has been toxic," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "That's all I can say, I haven't enjoyed any of it, and it's getting so stressful what is happening now."
Meanwhile, it is understood that her colleague, Cllr Riaz Gull, had been deselected by the party prior to his resignation. Reports suggest further deselections of sitting Labour councillors in the borough have yet to be made public.
Shifting Balance of Power in Hounslow
These latest departures have a tangible impact on the council's composition. Hounslow Labour now holds 49 of the 62 available seats, a reduction of three since the 2022 local elections.
The opposition is now comprised of:
- Eight Conservative councillors
- One Green Party councillor
- Four independent councillors
The rise in independent members is partly due to another high-profile defection. Last week, former Labour councillor Guy Lambert revealed he had joined the Green Party, having initially resigned from Labour in January 2025. He criticised the party's 'deeply flawed' selection process and has become the first Green representative on Hounslow Council.
A Wider Pattern of Labour Unrest in London
The turmoil in Hounslow is not an isolated incident. Labour groups across London have been experiencing a wave of resignations and defections in recent months.
In many cases, these moves are a direct response to sitting councillors being deselected for the 2026 elections.
The situation has become so acute in the London Borough of Hillingdon that the local Labour group was forced to pause its candidate selection process. This was due to an inability to find enough female candidates willing to stand, which is required by party rules on gender balance.
Similarly, in the Borough of Brent, eight Labour councillors were informed they would not be permitted to stand for re-election.
A spokesperson for Hounslow Labour declined to comment on the specific resignations, stating the group does not discuss internal party matters.
