Islington 2026 Elections: Greens Surge, Labour Holds

Key Points

• Labour retained control of Islington Council with 32 seats out of 51, down from 44 seats before the election.
• Green Party increased from 3 seats to 19 seats, described as a ‘breakthrough’ by the party.
• Elections held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, across 17 wards with 263 candidates from five main parties and independents.
• Total councillors confirmed: 51/51, with no other parties gaining seats; previous independents appear absorbed into party counts.
• Notable Green wins in wards including Arsenal (2 seats), Canonbury (1), Clerkenwell (2), Finsbury Park (2), Highbury (3), Mildmay (3), Tollington (3), and Tufnell Park (3).

Islington (North London News) May 9, 2026Labour has held onto Islington Council after the Green Party made substantial gains in the local elections on May 7, 2026. The ruling Labour Party lost 12 seats, dropping to 32 in the 51-seat chamber, while the Greens swelled from three to 19 councillors.

What Happened in the Islington Local Elections 2026?

As reported by the North West Londoner news team, going into the election, Labour held 44 of the 51 council seats, with Greens on three and four independents. All 51 seats were contested across 17 wards, with results declared by May 8.

The Green Party hailed the outcome as a ‘breakthrough’, reflecting voter shifts amid national trends where Labour faced losses elsewhere.

MyLondon detailed that 263 candidates from five main parties and independents competed, with Labour commanding the chamber despite the setback. Voter turnout specifics were not immediately released, but the contest highlighted environmental and local issues.

Which Wards Did the Green Party Win in Islington 2026?

Ward-by-ward results, as compiled by the North West Londoner, show Greens securing multiple seats in several areas.

• Arsenal ward: Patrick Brighty (Green), Nafisah Brown (Green), Fin Craig (Labour).
• Barnsbury ward: Rowena Champion (Labour), Jilani Chowdhury (Labour), Kane Emerson (Labour).
• Bunhill ward: Valerie Bossman-Quarshie (Labour), Troy Martin Gallagher (Labour), Kiran Prasad (Labour).
• Caledonian ward: Paul Convery (Labour), Una O’Halloran (Labour), Md Rahman (Labour).
• Canonbury ward: Hayden Banks (Green), Clare Jeapes (Labour), Nicholas Wayne (Labour).
• Clerkenwell ward: Jara Falkenburg (Green), Giulio Ferrini (Green), Ruth Hayes (Labour).
• Finsbury Park ward: Caroline Allen (Green), Syreen Hassan (Green), Mick O’Sullivan (Labour).
• Highbury ward: Benali Hamdache (Green), Talia Hussain (Green), Jon Robert Nott (Green).
• Hillrise ward: Shreya Nanda (Labour), Michelline Safi-Ngongo (Labour), Marian Spall (Labour).
• Holloway ward: Jason Jackson (Labour), Joe Peck (Labour), Claire Zammit (Labour).
• Junction ward: Sheila Chapman (Labour), Benjamin Gregg (Labour), James Potts (Labour).
• Laycock ward: Maia Hamilton (Labour), Heather Staff (Labour), Nurullah Turan (Labour).
• Mildmay ward: Sophia Brown (Green), Jackson Caines (Green), Carlos Valero (Green).
• St Mary’s and St James’ ward: Joseph Croft (Labour), Hannah McHugh (Labour), Saiqa Pandor (Labour).
• St Peter’s and Canalside ward: Martin Klute (Labour), Toby North (Labour), Rosaline Ogunro (Labour).
• Tollington ward: Elmedina Baptista-Mendes (Green), Alex Nettle (Green), Jonathan Ward (Green).
• Tufnell Park ward: Sophia Andersson-Gylden (Green), Sheridan Kates (Green), Devon Osborne (Green).

These outcomes position Greens as the main opposition, solidifying second place borough-wide.

How Did Labour Retain Control Despite Losses?

Labour’s 32 seats provide a majority in the 51-seat council, as noted in Islington Council updates. Pre-election projections from PollCheck had forecasted Labour at 28 seats with Greens at 20, but actual results saw Labour outperform slightly while Greens fell just short of projections. Islington Council confirmed results publication after 1:45pm on May 8.

Yahoo UK News reported the seat losses directly: “The ruling Labour Party has lost 12 seats after the Greens swelled their number of councillors from three to 19.” This mirrors national patterns where Labour shed seats amid broader challenges.

What Are Green Party Leaders Saying About the Results?

The Green Party described the gains as a ‘breakthrough’, per MyLondon and Yahoo coverage. Islington Green Party sites reference past surges, noting increased vote shares, though specific 2026 quotes await full post-election statements. Nationally, Greens attracted disillusioned voters, as per YouTube analyses ahead of polls.

No direct quotes from named Green leaders on May 8 results appear in initial reports, but the party emphasised their role as Labour’s primary challenger.

Why Did Voters Shift to Greens in Islington?

Reports link gains to priorities like housing and environmental issues. Pre-election BBC profiles noted Islington’s profile, home to Arsenal FC and Sadler’s Wells, with prior shifts from Labour to Greens. PollCheck highlighted battlegrounds like Tollington (Labour hold by slim margin) and Barnsbury.

MyLondon attributed the swell to Greens taking 16 seats net. Islington Gazette via Facebook noted:

“Labour has retained control of Islington Council despite heavy losses, with the Green Party making significant gains.”

Background of the Development

Islington Council’s composition evolved from 2022, when Labour held 48 of 51 seats post-boundary changes, with Greens at 3. Turnout then was 36%, with a 5.4% shift to Greens (21.8% vote share vs Labour’s 54.3%). Four Labour councillors became independents post-2022.

By 2026, Labour started with 44 seats, Greens 3, independents 4. Elections on May 7 involved all seats up, amid national locals for 136 authorities. Greens built on prior momentum, like 2024 London Assembly gains to 21.4% in North East.

Prediction: How This Can Affect Islington Residents

This development can affect Islington residents through heightened scrutiny on council policies, as Greens with 19 seats form a larger opposition bloc influencing debates on local services. Labour’s reduced majority from 44 to 32 seats may necessitate more cross-party collaboration on issues like housing and environment, potentially slowing decisions but introducing diverse input. Residents in Green-strong wards such as Highbury, Tollington, and Tufnell Park could see prioritised green initiatives or challenges to Labour plans. Borough-wide, budget allocations and planning might face amendments, affecting services for over 230,000 residents without shifting overall control.