A map showing the wards of Waltham Forest from 2002 to 2022

Waltham Forest London Borough Council in London is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 60 councillors have been elected from 20 wards, with 3 councillors per ward.

Political control

The first election to the council was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority ahead of the new system coming into full effect the following year. Political control of the council since 1964 has been held by the following parties:

Party in control Years
Labour 1964–1968
Conservative 1968–1971
Labour 1971–1994
No overall control 1994–1998
Labour 1998–2002
No overall control 2002–2010
Labour 2010–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1965 have been:[1][2]

Councillor Party From To
Herbert Palethorpe Labour 1965 1968
Tom Brandon Conservative 1968 1971
Bill Pearmine Labour 1971 1982
Gerald King Conservative 1982 1986
Neil Gerrard Labour 1986 1990
Clive Morton Labour 1990 1992
Evan Jones Labour 1992 1994
Huw Morgan-Thomas Labour 1994 1998
Tony Buckley Labour 1998 30 Jul 2003
Clyde Loakes Labour 30 Jul 2003 21 May 2009
Chris Robbins Labour 21 May 2009 25 May 2017
Clare Coghill Labour 25 May 2017 2 Sep 2021
Grace Williams Labour 2 Sep 2021

Council elections

Summary of the council composition after recent council elections, click on the year for full details of each election.

Year Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats Independent Notes
1964 33 3 0 9
1968 4 44 0 0
1971 39 9 0 0
1974 36 12 0 0
1978 36 21 0 0 Boundary changes increased the number of seats by 11.[3]
1982 26 25 6 0
1986 31 16 10 0
1990 30 16 11 0
1994 27 16 14 0 Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same.[n 1][n 2]
1998 30 15 12 0 Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same.[n 3]
2002 29 18 13 0 Boundary changes increased the number of seats by 3.[4]
2006 26 15 19 0
2010 36 18 6 0
2014 44 16 0 0
2018 46 14 0 0
2022 47 13 0 0 Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same.[5]

Borough result maps

By-election results

1964-1968

There were no by-elections.[6]

1968-1971

Leyton by-election, 17 September 1970[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour P. L. Leighton 1230
Conservative F. Barnes 363
Liberal L. C. A. Roskilly 95
Turnout 16.8%

1971-1974

Central by-election, 11 May 1972[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H. M. Cohen 1,324
Conservative Mrs E. J. White 839
Communist R. A. Sayers 78
Turnout 21.4%
Chapel End by-election, 11 May 1972[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour K. Gordon 1,796
Conservative J. Watson 1,396
Liberal G. E. Caryer 306
Turnout 33.1%
St James Street by-election, 5 July 1973[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour N. F. Gerrard 1,056
Liberal M. P. O'Flanagan 512
Residents D. R. South 363
Conservative Mrs B. R. Eden 180
Ratepayers Association H. L. Rider 163
Turnout 26.0%

1974-1978

Chapel End by-election, 2 December 1976[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald B. Lewis 1,284
Labour Joseph Levy 785
National Front Donald R. South 356
The Centre Party Ronald W. Garner 283
Ratepayers Wilfred Atkinson 241
Liberal Barry R. Woodward 188
Turnout 31.0
Chingford Central by-election, 2 December 1976[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Graham F. Sinclair 1,811
Ratepayers Henry J. Berry 736
Labour Paul J. Diamond 504
National Front John R. P. King 407
Liberal Michael J. Mackrory 260
The Centre Party Michael J. Page 235
Turnout 34.6
St James Street by-election, 21 April 1977[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert C. Hammond 1,090
Conservative Laurie Braham 568
National Front Donald R. South 396
Liberal George D. Bristow 201
Turnout 29.1

1978-1982

1982-1986

1986-1990

1990-1994

Leytonstone by-election, 15 October 1992[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jennifer Gray 1,194 48.6
Lib Dem Focus Team Jonathan H. Fryer 969 39.6
Conservative Michael Thompson 182 7.4
Independent Colin R. Bex 112 4.6
Turnout 29.3
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Patrick J. Hayes.

1994-1998

Wood Street by-election, 1 May 1997[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Angela M. Bean 2,718 49.5 +8.7
Liberal Democrats Robert S. Meadowcroft 1,717 31.2 -14.5
Conservative Robert J. Brock 1,079 19.6 +5.9
Majority 1,001 18.3
Turnout 5,514 63.1
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Neal A. Chubb.

1998-2002

Leytonstone by-election, 1 October 1998[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian Leslie 997 47.3 +0.0
Liberal Democrats John C. Howard 965 45.8 +18.5
Conservative Matthew R. Sharp 78 3.7 -4.2
Independent Roderick M. Milroy 66 3.1 -2.7
Majority 32 1.5
Turnout 2,106 27.8
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Huw M. Morgan-Thomas.

2002-2006

Forest by-election, 15 May 2003[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mashoodul F. Qureshi 1,283 45.5 +17.7
Labour David G. Hayes 717 25.4 -12.9
Conservative Julien A. S. Foster 417 14.8 +3.8
Independent Mohammed Shafiq 183 6.5 +6.5
Green Mark S. Dawes 171 6.1 -6.0
Socialist Alliance Cecilia Prosper 47 1.7 -1.6
Majority 566 20.1
Turnout 2,818 38.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Mohammed F. Rahman.

William Morris by-election, 4 September 2003[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Robert J. Wheatley 1,051 43.6 +18.9
Labour Geraldine Reardon 932 38.7 -11.9
Conservative Kabir A. Sabar 188 7.8 -7.1
Green Gary P. Lancet 151 6.3 +6.3
Socialist Alliance Lee Rock 84 3.5 -6.3
Majority 119 4.9
Turnout 2,406 30.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Martin J. O'Connor.

Valley by-election, 28 October 2004[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Laurance A. Wedderburn 791 36.9 -17.4
Liberal Democrats Henry A. Boyle 710 33.2 +21.6
Labour Margaret L. Broadley 552 25.8 -8.3
Respect Christopher Dransfield 88 4.1 +4.1
Majority 81 3.7
Turnout 2,141 27.6
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. David Divine.

Hoe Street by-election, 18 November 2004[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arunes Sarkar 774 40.4 -1.1
Liberal Democrats Mohammad S. Diwan 561 29.2 +13.1
Conservative Graham F. Sinclair 299 15.6 -4.7
Green Mark S. Dawes 199 10.4 -6.4
Socialist Alternative Louise H. Thompson 85 4.4 -1.0
Majority 213 11.2
Turnout 1,918 23.0
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Mohammed M. Nasim.

Leytonstone by-election, 14 July 2005[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Marie E. Pye 937 38.0 +3.0
Liberal Democrats Meher Khan 765 31.3 -2.4
Respect Caroline M. Coleman 354 14.5 +14.5
Conservative Julien A. S. Foster 225 9.1 +1.7
Green Mark S. Dawes 165 6.7 -8.0
Majority 172 6.7
Turnout 2,446 30.9
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Ian Leslie.

2006-2010

Chingford Green by-election, 26 April 2007[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew P. J. Hemsted 1,694 55.2 -14.8
Liberal Democrats Graham A. Woolnough 1,022 33.3 +14.3
Labour Gerry A. Lyons 208 6.8 -4.2
UKIP Robert J. Brock 143 4.7 +4.7
Majority 672 21.9
Turnout 3,067 38.5
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Derek B. Arnold.

Leyton by-election, 14 February 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Winnifred F. Smith 1,360 56.0 +12.8
Labour Khevyn R. Limbajee 695 28.6 -14.1
Independent Carole A. Vincent* 176 7.2 +7.2
Conservative Edwin J. Northover 108 4.4 -2.1
Green William J. Measure 90 3.7 -3.9
Majority 665 27.4
Turnout 2,429 27.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

The by-election was called following the disqualification of Cllr. Miranda A. J. Grell.
*No description (rather than independent). Candidate is a member of the Respect Party and was supported by the local branch. She was unable to use Respect as her description due to a split in the party. Current UK electoral law allows candidates to stand without any description rather than independent if preferred.

Forest by-election, 5 June 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Samina S. Safdar 977 36.9 -2.3
Labour Jawade A. Liaqat 927 35.0 +1.4
Conservative Edwin J. Northover 507 19.1 +5.9
Green Mark S. Dawes 184 6.9 -7.0
Left List Makola Mayambika 56 2.1 +2.1
Majority 50 1.9
Turnout 2,651 32.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Imran Abrahim.

Valley by-election, 6 November 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ms. Jemma Hemsted 1183
Liberal Democrats Henry Boyle 734
Labour Geoffrey Hammond 439
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John M. Gover.

Hale End & Highams Park by-election, 4 December 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ms. Jane E. Morgan 1298
Liberal Democrats Nicky R. Bason 1295
Conservative Sandeep D. Christian 1223
Conservative Ms. Sheree L. Rackham 1155
Labour Mohammed S. K. Ahmed 264
Labour Gerry Lyons 241
Green Daniel P. Perrett 142
Turnout
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John D. Beanse and the resignation of Cllr. John N. H. Penstone due to ill health.

Larkswood by-election, 19 March 2009[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edwin J. Northover 1393
Labour Ms. Henrietta A. Jackson 255
Liberal Democrats Henry A. Boyle 144
Green Daniel P. Perrett 102
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John F. Walter.

2010-2014

Larkswood by-election, 12 July 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Moss 1392
Labour Peter Woodrow 472
Liberal Democrats Graham Woolnough 79
Green Bill Measure 70
National Liberal James O'Rourke 64
Turnout 24.4%
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Edwin J. Northover.

2014-2018

William Morris by-election, 29 June 2017[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Umar Ali 1,923 68.4 +11.5
Green Rebecca Tully 524 18.6 +1.8
Conservative Afzal Akram 365 13.0 +6.2
Turnout 2,813
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the death of Councillor Nadeem Ali, of the Labour Party.[15]

2018-2022

Hatch Lane by-election, 6 May 2021[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Afzal Akram 2,072 50.9 +3.2
Labour Catherine Burns 1,565 38.4 +2.3
Green Robert Tatam 266 6.5 -3.4
Liberal Democrats Henry Boyle 170 4.2 -2.0
Majority 507 12.4
Turnout 4,073
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the death of Councillor Geoff Walker, of the Conservative Party.

Grove Green by-election, 10 June 2021[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Uzma Rasool 1,301 58.4 +4.1
Liberal Democrats Arran Angus 541 24.3 +0.6
Green Mark Dawes 205 9.2 -2.9
Conservative Shahamima Khan 142 6.4 -0.1
TUSC Kevin Parslow 40 1.8 -1.6
Majority 760 34.1
Turnout 2,229
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the death of Councillor Chris Robbins, of the Labour Party.

Lea Bridge by-election, 10 June 2021[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jennifer Whilby 1,176 50.0 -8.6
Independent Claire Weiss 441 18.8 +18.8
Conservative Sazimet Imre 436 18.6 +8.3
Green RoseMary Warrington 181 7.7 -9.0
Liberal Democrats Naomi McCarthy 116 4.9 -1.5
Majority 735 31.3
Turnout 2,350
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Yemi Osho, of the Labour Party.

2022-2026

Higham Hill by-election, 26 October 2023[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Shumon Ali-Rahman 924 57.3
Liberal Democrats Alex Lewis 268 16.6
Green Abigail Woodman 198 12.3
TUSC Nancy Taaffe 144 8.9
Conservative Moufazzal Bhuiyan 78 4.8
Majority 656 40.7
Turnout 1,612
Labour hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Alistair Strathern MP, of the Labour Party.

Notes

  1. ^ The Essex and Greater London (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993
  2. ^ The East London Boroughs (London Borough Boundaries) (No. 2) Order 1993
  3. ^ The Redbridge and Waltham Forest (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993

References

  1. ^ "Council minutes". Waltham Forest Council. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  2. ^ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "London Borough Council Elections 4 May 1978" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b "London Borough Council Elections 2 May 2002" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ^ "The London Borough of Waltham Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  6. ^ "London Borough Council Elections 9 May 1968" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  7. ^ "London Borough Council Elections 13 May 1971" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "London Borough Council Elections 2 May 1974" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Council. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. ^ "London Borough Council By-elections May 1990 to May 1994" (PDF). London Datastore. London Research Centre. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  10. ^ "London Borough Council Elections 7 May 1998 including the Greater London Authority Referendum results" (PDF). London Datastore. London Research Centre. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e "London Borough Council Elections 4 May 2006" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "London Borough Council Elections 6 May 2010" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  13. ^ "London Borough Council Elections 22 May 2014" (PDF). London Datastore. Greater London Authority. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  14. ^ "William Morris Ward By-Election Results 2017 | Waltham Forest Council". www.walthamforest.gov.uk.
  15. ^ "Brother wins by-election triggered by councillor's death". East London and West Essex Guardian Series.
  16. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Hatch Lane Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Grove Green Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Lea Bridge Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Higham Hill Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

External links

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