The Green Party held onto a seat in Clapham Park but lost another to the Liberal Democrats in Streatham St Leonard's following by-elections on July 9. Michael Ball was elected Green councillor for Clapham Park with 842 votes (44 per cent), narrowly ahead of Labour's Louie Somerville-Sutherland, who secured 799 votes (42 per cent).
Liberal Democrat candidate Ben Amos finished third with 108 votes (6 per cent), followed by Joshua Jack Forrester of the Conservatives and Martin Lester Read of Reform UK. Jehwo Susanna Kehinde of the Christian Peoples Alliance came sixth, and Anya Krycek of The Socialist Party of Great Britain received the fewest votes.
New Clapham Park councillor vows to hold developers and council to account
A lifelong Lambeth resident, Cllr Ball has chaired Lambeth Tenants Council, his Neighbourhood Housing Forum, and a Tenants Association, and served as a local school governor for nearly 30 years. He pledged to use his experience to "hold developers and the council to account" and said he will always listen to residents and stand up for communities regardless of "party politics."
"I am deeply honoured to have been elected as councillor for Clapham Park, in what was a hard fought campaign, and I would like to thank every one of the voters and volunteers who came out for us," Cllr Ball said. "Over the next four years, I will fight every day for the people who live here, and for their right to decent social housing and a real say in the decisions that affect them."
He added: "Again and again, residents told me on the doorstep that they were tired of being ignored by Labour, worried about being able to make ends meet, and angry about inequality and injustice. However you voted, I will fight for you in the months and years to come."
Lib Dems win Streatham St Leonard's seat from Greens
In Streatham St Leonard's ward, the Liberal Democrats gained a seat previously held by the Greens. Alex Davies was elected Lib Dem councillor with 1,161 votes (42 per cent), defeating Green candidate Dario Goodwin, who received 972 votes (35 per cent). Labour's Jade Ellen Albas came third with 421 votes (15 per cent), followed by Conservative Chris Cousins, Reform UK's Mark McKee, and Yemi Awolola of the Christian Peoples Alliance.
Cllr Davies has lived in Streatham for more than 40 years and previously served as a councillor for Streatham. His past campaigns include saving Streatham and Tulse Hill's cross-river Thameslink service, preventing the closure of Streatham Library, and securing new paving and street trees on Streatham High Road. During his 2026 campaign, he pledged to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Streatham Hill and Streatham High Road.
Donna Harris, former councillor and leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrat Group, posted on X: "Absolutely delighted that my good friend @sw16alex has been elected as the new Councillor for Streatham St Leonard's. Alex's track record made him the clear choice, Streatham continues to grow as a Lib Dem stronghold, because residents know Lib Dems deliver for residents!"
Lambeth Council composition after by-elections
As a result of the July 9 by-elections, Lambeth Council now comprises 28 Green councillors, 26 Labour councillors, and nine Liberal Democrat councillors.
