A wave of resignations and defections among London’s Labour councillors signals deepening internal strife and a potential shift in local political loyalties ahead of the 2026 elections.
Two West London councillors have recently deserted the Labour Party amid spiraling internal chaos and disillusionment that threaten to undermine whatever remnants of stability Labour once claimed ahead of the 2026 local elections. Councillor Riaz Gull and former Deputy Mayor Harleen Atwal Hear, both representing Heston Central on Hounslow Council, resigned last week, citing a “toxic” working environment that has become unsustainable. Their departure, which now leaves four independent councillors in Hounslow, is symptomatic of Labour’s broader decline into disarray.
Harleen Atwal Hear described her decision as driven by the party’s increasingly “toxic” atmosphere, forcing her to leave much earlier than she had planned. Unconfirmed reports suggest she was sidelined well before her resignation, with systemic deselections and internal struggles increasingly evident in the Hounslow Labour ranks. Councillor Gull, on the other hand, was reportedly deselected prior to his exit. These defections follow a disturbing pattern across London’s Labour-controlled boroughs, highlighting a party in free fall, marred by factional infighting and an inability to retain its elected representatives.
The situation in Hounslow is not isolated. Former Labour councillor Guy Lambert’s recent switch to the Green Party underscores the deep cracks within Labour’s internal selection process, which he described as “deeply flawed.” Lambert’s move marked the first Green councillor on Hounslow Council, serving as a stark warning of growing voter disenchantment with Labour’s internal culture and political direction. Labour’s local party machinery is visibly losing credibility and influence as long-standing representatives Brexit-ify their discontent by defecting from a party they see as increasingly incompatible with their values.
In neighbouring boroughs such as Hillingdon, similar unrest has led to the resignation of party figures like Peter Curling, who cited “political skulduggery” and personal betrayal as reasons for leaving. Curling now sits as an independent after being deselected in June 2025, illustrating Labour’s appalling management of candidate selection amid accusations of internal vendettas and factional power struggles. The party’s inability to recruit diverse and capable candidates underscores its declining competence and relevance.
Further afield, councillors Rita Judge and Scott Farley resigned last year, with Judge joining far more independent-minded groups, highlighting the crumbling of Labour’s once solid local base. In Brent, a wave of deselections in September 2025 saw the party’s leadership impose a draconian slate that excluded eight sitting councillors, many of whom had publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, revealing slimy ideological purges rather than democratic processes at work within Labour’s ranks. Such heavy-handed tactics serve only to deepen the party’s alienation from its grassroots and exposed voters.
The ongoing turmoil feeds directly into electoral instability. In Hounslow’s recent by-election, former Labour councillor Theo Dennison snatched victory as an independent, narrowly defeating the Labour candidate, an unmistakable sign that discontent is turning into outright rejection. This signals that Labour’s credibility is in freefall, with voters increasingly turning away from a party mired in internal conflict, factionalism, and ideological rigidity that alienates the very communities they claim to serve.
These defections and resignations are not mere internal squabbles, they are symptomatic of a Labour Party increasingly out of touch, plagued by toxic politics and flawed leadership. If Labour’s current trajectory continues, it risks further desertions, electoral washouts, and a permanent decline in its influence in London and beyond. The party’s internal chaos is live evidence that its days of dominance are over, and only the most naïve or desperate would believe otherwise. As the political landscape shifts, it’s clearer than ever that real change lies elsewhere, away from the chaos, dishonesty, and failure that define Labour’s current direction.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
3
Notes:
🕰️ The narrative presents recent events, including the resignations of Councillor Riaz Gull and former Deputy Mayor Harleen Atwal Hear from the Labour Party in Hounslow. However, similar reports of Labour councillor defections in London have been published in the past year, such as the defection of two Labour councillors in Hammersmith & Fulham to the Green Party in July 2025 ([london.greenparty.org.uk](https://london.greenparty.org.uk/2025/07/22/labour-councillors-defect-over-starmers-rightward-shift-join-greens-in-hammersmith-fulham/?utm_source=openai)). This suggests that while the events are recent, the theme of Labour councillor defections is not new. ⚠️
Quotes check
Score:
2
Notes:
🕰️ The direct quotes attributed to Harleen Atwal Hear and Councillor Riaz Gull regarding a “toxic” working environment and being “deselected” prior to their exits do not appear in the provided search results. This raises concerns about the originality and verification of these quotes. ⚠️
Source reliability
Score:
4
Notes:
⚠️ The narrative originates from a local news outlet, MyLondon, which is part of the Reach plc group. While Reach plc is a reputable media company, the specific credibility of MyLondon is less established compared to national outlets. Additionally, the report includes unverified claims and lacks corroboration from other reputable sources, which diminishes its reliability. ⚠️
Plausability check
Score:
3
Notes:
⚠️ The narrative describes a “toxic” working environment within the Labour Party in Hounslow, leading to multiple councillor resignations. While similar defections have occurred in other London boroughs, such as the defection of two Labour councillors in Hammersmith & Fulham to the Green Party in July 2025 ([london.greenparty.org.uk](https://london.greenparty.org.uk/2025/07/22/labour-councillors-defect-over-starmers-rightward-shift-join-greens-in-hammersmith-fulham/?utm_source=openai)), the specific details and quotes provided in the narrative lack verification from other reputable sources, raising questions about their accuracy. ⚠️
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
⚠️ The narrative presents recent events of Labour councillor resignations in West London but lacks verification from reputable sources, includes unverified quotes, and originates from a less established local news outlet. These factors raise significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information presented. ⚠️
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