Labour takes control of Southwark Council

Traditional assumptions about Southwark borough politics have been challenged as a result of a high turnout caused by holding the local elections on the same day as the general election. Turnout was roughly double the level seen at the last borough elections in 2006.

The count for the council elections began on Friday afternoon and continued late into the evening. As the results were declared it gradually became clear that control of the borough was going to change hands.

Before the Chaucer result is confirmed, Labour already has 34 of the 63 seats on Southwark Council which means that the Lib Dem-led administration of the past eight years is clearly ejected from office. The Conservatives, who have been part of a joint administration since 2006, have also suffered with their previous tally of six councillors reduced to just three.

We focus our political coverage on the six wards which most closely relate to the boundaries of SE1. All wards elect three members.

Bishop's ward, Lambeth

All three incumbent Lib Dem councillors – Diana Braithwaite, Gavin Dodsworth and Peter Truesdale – have been re-elected to serve for another four-year term. Labour candidates Kevin Craig, Jennifer Mosley and Jack Sutcliffe performed strongly.
• Hear the Bishop's declaration on AudioBoo [courtesy of Jason Cobb]

Cathedrals ward, Southwark

This ward was comfortably held by the Liberal Democrats. Newcomer Geoffrey Thornton joins sitting councillors Adele Morris and David Noakes. Independent candidate Ken Hayes received 268 votes.
• Hear the Cathedrals declaration on AudioBoo

Chaucer ward, Southwark

A full recount was ordered in Chaucer ward with the result apparently even closer than in 2006 when just eight votes separated the third and fourth placed candidates. [Update: result now available]

Grange ward, Southwark

In Grange ward Lib Dem incumbents Linda Manchester and Denise Capstick have been joined by Mark Gettleson.
• Hear the Grange declaration on AudioBoo

Riverside ward, Southwark

Sitting Lib Dem councillors Anood Al-Samerai, Eliza Mann and Nick Stanton were all reelected. The Conservatives have pushed Labour into third place in this ward which includes affluent Shad Thames as well as deprived Bermondsey estates.
• Hear the Riverside declaration on AudioBoo

South Bermondsey ward, Southwark

South Bermondsey was a closer contest than in the past, with incumbent Lib Dem Paul Kyriacou now joined by newcomer Michael Bukola. Their Lib Dem colleague Graham Neale, latterly of Livesey ward, returns to the council after a four-year break. Just 140 votes separated the third-placed Lib Dem from the fourth-placed Labour candidate. Former Lib Dem Ade Lasaki, who defected to Labour just before the election, came fifth.
• Hear the South Bermondsey declaration on AudioBoo

Elsewhere

Former East Walworth Lib Dem councillor Cathy Bowman makes a comeback to the council in Newington ward. A former executive member for regeneration she lost her seat in 2006 and subsequently worked as the coordinator of the Bankside Residents' Forum. Newington ward, which includes homes around the Elephant & Castle including the Draper Estate, is now a split ward with two Labour members and one Liberal Democrat.

East Walworth ward, which includes the Heygate Estate and Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, now has three Labour councillors. It was previously a split ward with two Labour members and one Lib Dem councillor.

What next?

The change of control in Southwark raises many questions, including the prospect of joint working with neighbouring Labour-run Lambeth and the future of the Elephant & Castle regeneration deal which the Lib Dems had intended to sign next month.

Before the election we interviewed Southwark Labour leader Peter John; read what he had to say.

The change of administration is a personal blow for many SE1 councillors who have formed part of the council's 10-strong ruling executive. Nick Stanton (council leader), Tim McNally (resources), David Noakes (health), Adele Morris (communities), Paul Kyriacou (environment) and Linda Manchester (community safety) all effectively lose their jobs without any redundancy payments.