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A rising number of Labour councillors across London are defecting to independents, Greens, and Conservatives amid internal factionalism, leadership tensions, and contentious policy issues, signaling a major shift in the city\u2019s local political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A further blow has been dealt to Labour\u2019s presence in London as Toby Benton, a councillor for Colville Ward in Kensington and Chelsea, publicly revealed his departure from the party. Benton, who was elected in 2022, joined the RBKC Independent Group last October, becoming the latest to leave Labour amid growing unrest within the party ranks in the city. This move follows the pattern of several Labour councillors defecting in recent years, amid allegations of internal factionalism and dissatisfaction with the party leadership.<\/p>\n
Benton’s decision to leave Labour was, he said, driven by a sense that the party had sidelined supporters of former leader Jeremy Corbyn and by discomfort over the party\u2019s stance on Palestine. He described the local Labour group as being “run by opportunists” and criticised what he called the takeover of local politics by agents from Westminster and Whitehall, casting the group as lacking proactive political vision. Despite now being a member of the Green Party and part of the RBKC Independent Group, Benton indicated his desire to unify left-wing factions with significant grassroots energy.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for London Labour, however, pointed to the fact that Benton was not selected as a Labour candidate for the next local elections as a pivotal factor in his defection. This issue of deselection has been a recurring theme, driving a wave of councillors away from Labour toward independent groups, the Greens, or even the Conservatives across London borough councils. In Hillingdon, for example, four Labour councillors who were deselected since June have defected, with the party struggling to field a full slate of candidates in some areas.<\/p>\n
Benton\u2019s defection adds to a series of similar departures in Kensington and Chelsea. Since 2022, at least six councillors have left Labour, including notable figures such as Emma Dent Coad, who quit in May 2023 describing the party as “unrecognisable,” and Mona Ahmed, who left over Labour leader Keir Starmer’s stance on Gaza. Mona Adam and Dahabo Isse have also left, the former aligning with the Greens and the latter joining the Conservatives. Councillor Eva Jedut was censured and became independent after her suspension from the party.<\/p>\n
This wave of defections reflects broader challenges within London Labour, which has seen multiple councillors jump ship, particularly citing the party\u2019s rightward shift under Starmer\u2019s leadership and its handling of contentious issues like Gaza and immigration. In recent months, several Labour councillors in boroughs such as Hammersmith & Fulham, Barking and Dagenham, Lewisham, and Haringey have defected to the Green Party, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s direction and its failure to condemn violence or adopt more progressive policies.<\/p>\n
Further complicating the situation, Labour has been accused of a “factional cull” of black and brown councillors over their political stances on Palestine and Gaza, with eight sitting councillors barred from re-standing in Brent after signing a ceasefire statement. This internal strife points to a divided party grappling with ideological and demographic tensions.<\/p>\n
In addition to defections to the Greens and independent groups, there have been instances of councillors joining the Conservatives, such as Paul Fisher in Westminster, underscoring a fracturing political landscape in London\u2019s local government.<\/p>\n
The RBKC Independent Group, led by former Labour member Emma Dent Coad, has welcomed Benton warmly. Dent Coad praised Benton as a “man of conscience” who found it “unbearable” to remain in what Labour has become, highlighting the personal and political significance felt by many defectors connected deeply to their communities.<\/p>\n
As Labour faces numerous resignations and defections across London\u2019s boroughs, the political balance is being reshaped. The party\u2019s challenges in maintaining unity and appealing to its traditional base suggest a period of significant realignment in London\u2019s local government landscape in the lead-up to the 2026 local elections.<\/p>\n