Key Points
- Labour and the Conservatives finished on 31 seats each in Barnet, leaving no party with overall control of the council.
- The Greens won their first elected councillor in the borough and could hold the balance of power at the council meeting on 19 May.
- The new council is expected to decide first on the mayoralty, which could shape the later vote on the council leader.
- Barry Rawlings could remain leader if Labour secures the mayoral vote and then the leadership vote, but that outcome is not guaranteed.
- Conservative leader Peter Zinkin could also be in contention depending on how the meeting unfolds.
- Barnet Council chief executive Cath Shaw has said the decision rests with the newly elected councillors and that residents should continue to receive services as usual.
- Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson described the result as a “balanced hung council” and said he looked forward to working with all elected councillors.
Barnet (North London News) May 11, 2026 . As reported by David Floyd of Barnet Post, the count at the RAF Museum in Colindale ended with both main parties level, while the Greens secured the borough’s first elected councillor and therefore a potential deciding role. NW Londoner also reported that the result came after almost 12 hours of counting and marked a surprise deadlock after the Conservatives had hoped to take control.
Why is the 19 May meeting so important?
The first task at the meeting is expected to be the appointment of a new Mayor of Barnet, succeeding Labour Councillor Danny Rich, who was re-elected in West Finchley.
Barnet’s agenda documents show that the mayoral appointment is tied to the annual council meeting on 19 May 2026. If Labour’s nominee for mayor is elected, that mayor would then have a casting vote on the next stage: choosing the council leader.
Could Barry Rawlings stay as council leader?
Labour Councillor Barry Rawlings is currently the council leader, and one possible outcome is that he remains in post if Labour can secure the mayoralty and then the leadership vote.
But the Conservatives are expected to oppose that route, and the result may depend on full attendance by councillors from both sides because the chamber is tied. Barnet Society reported that absences through illness or unforeseen circumstances could still alter the result on the day. The uncertainty means leadership discussions are continuing before councillors gather at Hendon Town Hall.
What have the parties and councillors said?
Barnet Council chief executive Cath Shaw said in a statement after the election that the decision on how the council is governed belongs to the new councillors, while residents can expect services to continue normally. Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson congratulated those elected in his constituency and said:
“We now have a unique election result – the council is now a balanced hung council,”
according to Barnet Post’s report. The same report said he added:
“I look forward to working with you all in the coming years”.
BBC reporting on Chipping Barnet identified Tomlinson as the Labour candidate and noted the constituency’s competitive political background.
How did Barnet get here?
Barnet had been under Labour control since 2022, when Labour took the council from the Conservatives. The 2026 result reversed the comfortable Labour position that existed before the count, with the Conservatives regaining ground sharply but not enough to win outright.
Barnet Council’s current membership page shows the authority as Labour-controlled before the new council is formed, with Barry Rawlings as leader and Danny Rich as mayor for 2025-26. The change now sends the borough into a period of negotiation before a final administration is chosen.
Background of this development
Barnet’s current situation is the result of a local election that produced an exact tie between Labour and the Conservatives, with the Greens holding the only seat outside the two main blocs.
That combination created a hung council, meaning no single party can govern alone. Barnet Society said the new council will need to agree key roles and the future administration at its first meeting on 19 May. In practical terms, the mayoral vote and the subsequent leader vote are now the crucial steps that will determine who governs the borough.
Prediction
For Barnet residents, the short-term effect is likely to be political uncertainty at town hall rather than immediate disruption to council services, because officials have said normal services should continue. The tied result means decisions on budgets, committees and the cabinet could take longer to settle if the parties cannot agree quickly. If Labour secures the mayoralty, it could keep control through Barry Rawlings; if not, the Conservatives may push for leadership instead. For local voters, the development may also increase scrutiny of how each party works with smaller groups such as the Greens in a council with no majority.
