Key Points
- All 57 seats on Haringey Council were contested across 22 wards in the local elections held on 7 May 2026.
- Labour council leader Peray Ahmet lost her seat in Noel Park ward to the Green Party, described as a “Portillo moment”.
- Prior to the election, Labour held 43 seats, Liberal Democrats 7, Green Socialist Alliance 4, and 2 independents, with one vacancy in Hermitage and Gardens ward.
- The Green Party made significant gains, wiping out Labour in Noel Park by taking all three seats.
- Pre-election projections suggested the Greens could win 30 seats and take control from Labour, with an 88% probability.
- Wards up for election included Alexandra Park, Bounds Green, Bruce Castle, Crouch End, Fortis Green, Harringay, Hermitage and Gardens, Highgate, Hornsey, Muswell Hill, Noel Park, Northumberland Park, Seven Sisters, South Tottenham, St Ann’s, Stroud Green, Tottenham Central, Tottenham Green, Tottenham Hale, West Green, White Hart Lane, and Woodside [query input].
- Greens did not canvass in Peray Ahmet’s ward, Noel Park, as they considered it unwinnable beforehand.
- Candidates in Noel Park included Peray Ahmet (Labour), Emine Ibrahim (Labour), Menha Tresor Zola (Labour), Johann Beckford (Green), Simon Matthew Clark (Green), Erin Wolson (Green), David Morgan Beacham (Lib Dem), Arzu Ercan (Lib Dem), Richard Milnes Mansfield (Lib Dem), Jade Tracy Blackwell (Reform UK), David Hardie (Reform UK), Eva Kleinova (Conservative), Martyna Piadlowska (Conservative), and Dariusz Piadlowski (Conservative).
Haringey (North London News) May 9, 2026 – The Green Party achieved a stunning upset in the Haringey local elections by unseating Labour council leader Peray Ahmet in Noel Park ward, securing all three seats there and sending shockwaves through the counting hall. All 57 seats across the borough’s 22 wards were up for election on 7 May 2026, marking a full council contest. This result, likened to a “Portillo moment” – a reference to the shock 1997 defeat of Conservative minister Michael Portillo – highlighted Labour’s vulnerabilities after holding power with 43 seats.
What Happened in Noel Park Ward?
Noel Park ward became the epicentre of the night’s drama, where incumbent Labour leader Peray Ahmet, who had previously won with 1,849 votes in 2022 alongside colleagues Emine Ibrahim (1,773 votes) and Khaled Moyeed (1,626 votes), was ousted. As reported in coverage from MyLondon and shared on social media, the Greens took all three spots without prior canvassing in the ward, as they viewed it as a Labour stronghold. Green candidates Johann Beckford, Simon Matthew Clark, and Erin Wolson prevailed against a field of 14 contenders, including Labour’s Emine Ibrahim and Menha Tresor Zola, Liberal Democrats David Morgan Beacham, Arzu Ercan, and Richard Milnes Mansfield, Reform UK’s Jade Tracy Blackwell and David Hardie, and Conservatives Eva Kleinova, Martyna Piadlowska, and Dariusz Piadlowski.
The scale of the Green sweep in Noel Park eliminated the Labour presence entirely, unseating the borough’s top politician in a result that reverberated locally. PollCheck’s pre-election analysis had flagged Noel Park as a battleground where Greens led Labour by 3.4 percentage points, foreshadowing the outcome.
How Did Pre-Election Projections Hold Up?
Projections from PollCheck indicated the Greens were on track for 30 seats (range 18-35), Labour dropping to 22 (17-29), Liberal Democrats to 5 (3-12), and others to zero, shifting control from Labour to Green with 88% probability. Key battlegrounds included Tottenham Hale (Labour leading Green by 0.9pp), Alexandra Park (Green over Lib Dems by 0.9pp), Highgate (Green over Lib Dems by 1.4pp), and Hermitage & Gardens (Green over Labour by 1.9pp). Prior to polling, Labour held 44 seats as of April 2026, with Lib Dems on 7, Green Socialist Alliance on 4, and 2 independents; a vacancy existed in Hermitage & Gardens after Mike Hakata’s January resignation [query input].
BBC reporting noted Haringey ended without overall control, with Greens capturing 28 seats and Labour losing 30, coming just one seat shy of Green control. This aligned with broader London trends where Labour lost control in areas like Brent, Enfield, and Wandsworth amid Green gains.
Which Wards Were Contested and What Were the Stakes?
The election covered 22 wards, each with two or three councillors: Alexandra Park, Bounds Green, Bruce Castle, Crouch End, Fortis Green, Harringay, Hermitage and Gardens, Highgate, Hornsey, Muswell Hill, Noel Park, Northumberland Park, Seven Sisters, South Tottenham, St Ann’s, Stroud Green, Tottenham Central, Tottenham Green, Tottenham Hale, West Green, White Hart Lane, and Woodside.
Haringey, home to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, had been Labour-controlled since 1971, with 60% vote share in 2022 (Labour 50 seats, Lib Dems 7).
Recent shifts included Greens winning a 2025 by-election in St Ann’s and formations like the Green Socialist Alliance, comprising ex-Labour members and Greens.
A cooperation deal between Haringey Greens and the Socialist Alliance aimed to consolidate progressive votes against Labour. Turnout details and full ward-by-ward results were published as counts concluded on 8 May, per Haringey Council’s site.
What Context Shaped the Election?
Labour’s dominance faced challenges from local issues, though specific voter concerns were not detailed in immediate reports.
Pre-election polls like YouGov showed the Greens close behind Labour, while PollCheck predicted a Green victory with 37% vote share to Labour’s 32%. Candidates from Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, Conservatives, and Reform UK stood across all seats.
The election followed national trends of Labour losses and Reform UK gains elsewhere, but Haringey’s shift spotlighted Green progressivism.
As noted by NELondoner ahead of polling, the contest pitted long-term Labour hold against a potential Green takeover. Democracy Club listed the candidate publication on 9 April, the voter registration deadline on 20 April, and the postal deadline on 21 April.
Background of the Development
Haringey Council’s political landscape evolved significantly leading into 2026. Labour has governed since 1971, bolstered by 50 seats in 2022 amid 59.8% vote share, against the Lib Dems (24%) and the Greens (8.6%). Post-2022, expulsions and defections reduced Labour to 43 seats: one joined the Greens, two became Independent Socialists, and two became independents. The Green Socialist Alliance was formed in 2025 from these shifts. A 2025 St Ann’s by-election gave the Greens another seat. Pre-2026 vacancy in Hermitage & Gardens followed Mike Hakata’s resignation [query input]. Greens nearly won in 2022, missing by 113 votes in some areas, building on a general election surge.
Prediction
This development can affect Haringey residents by potentially altering council priorities towards Green policies on environment and housing, given the party’s gains and near-control. Labour voters may face reduced representation, impacting service delivery in wards like Noel Park. Local taxpayers and businesses could see shifts in budgeting and planning, as fragmented control requires cross-party negotiation. The broader London electorate might witness intensified competition, influencing future elections.
