2026 Lambeth London Borough Council election

The 2026 Lambeth London Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026, as part of the 2026 United Kingdom local elections. All 63 members of Lambeth London Borough Council will be elected. The election will take place alongside local elections in the other London boroughs.^[2][3]

The thirty-two London boroughs were established in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. They are the principal authorities in Greater London and have responsibilities including education, housing, planning, highways, social services, libraries, recreation, waste, environmental health and revenue collection. Some of the powers are shared with the Greater London Authority, which also manages passenger transport, police and fire.^[4]

Since its formation, Lambeth has generally been under Labour control apart from one period from 1968 to 1971 of Conservative control and several periods of no overall control. The council was controlled by a Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition from 2002 to 2006, and since 2006 has continuously had a Labour majority.

Following the 2022 elections, the Labour Party secured a majority on Lambeth Council with 58 seats. The Liberal Democrats formed the official opposition with three seats, while the Green Party won two.

A by-election in the Vauxhall ward was held in October 2023, following the death of Labour councillor Liam Jarnecki. Labour retained the seat, with Tom Swaine-Jameson.^[5]

Two by-elections took place in May 2024. In Knight’s Hill, Labour councillor Sonia Winifred resigned after having the party whip suspended for defying it in a Gaza ceasefire vote.^[6] Labour held the seat, with Emma Nye elected. On the same day, a by-election was held in Streatham Common and Vale following the resignation of Tom Rutland, who stepped down to focus on contesting East Worthing and Shoreham. Labour retained the seat, electing Sarah Cole.

A further by-election in Streatham Common and Vale took place in July 2024 after the resignation of Hena Shah. The seat was again held by Labour, with Dominic Armstrong elected.^[7][8]

In May 2025, a by-election was held in Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction following the election of Jim Dickson as MP for Dartford. The seat was gained by the Green Party, with Paul Valentine elected, making the Greens the joint opposition party on the council.^[9]

Cllr Martin Abrams resigned from the Labour Party in August 2025, highlighting a culture of alleged bullying and factionalism. He was suspended by Lambeth Labour in early 2024 after voting for a ceasefire motion in Gaza.^[10] He joined the Greens in September 2025, making them the official opposition group on Lambeth Council.^[11]

In July 2025, Cllr Irfan Mohammed was suspended from Labour after being charged with a criminal offences relating to exposure, controlling behaviour and sexual assault.^[12] He sat as an Independent.^[13]

In November 2025, Cllr Christiana (Tina) Valcarcel, defected to the Liberal Democrats, making them the joint opposition party on the council.^[14]

Lambeth, as is the case all other London borough councils, elects all of its councillors at once every four years, with the previous election having taken place in 2022. The election takes place by multi-member first-past-the-post voting, with each ward being represented by two or three councillors. Electors will have as many votes as there are councillors to be elected in their ward, with the top two or three being elected.

All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in London aged 18 or over are entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities.^[15] Voting in-person at polling stations takes place from 7:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters are able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.^[15]

At the beginning of March 2026, the Guardian reported on MRP modelling from data company Bombe which forecast that Lambeth would be one of the London boroughs Labour loses to the Green Party.^[16]

In September 2025, Labour’s candidate selections in Lambeth for the 2026 council elections were suspended after local member Mark Sheiham launched a High Court challenge against being blocked from standing.^[17]

An asterisk * at the end of a candidates name highlights an existing councillor seeking re-election

Rebecca Spencer was a councillor for Gipsy Hill ward, elected in 2022.

Martin Abrams is a sitting councillor for Streatham St Leonard’s ward

Tina Valcarcel is a sitting councillor for Stockwell East