Merton London Borough Council elections
Class of election in the United Kingdom
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Merton London Borough Council in London, England is elected every four years; it has administrative control over the London Borough of Merton.

Since the last boundary changes in 2022, 57 councillors have been elected from 20 wards.[1]
List of council elections
| Year | Labour | Conservative | Liberal Democrats[a] | MPWRA | LTRA | Council control after election | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964[2] | 26 | 25 | 0 | — | 3 | No overall control | |
| 1968[3] | 4 | 46 | 0 | 4 | Conservative | ||
| 1971[4] | 29 | 21 | 0 | 4 | Labour | ||
| 1974[5] | 22 | 29 | 0 | 3 | Conservative | ||
| 1978[b] | 15 | 39 | 0 | 3 | Conservative | ||
| 1982[7] | 13 | 44 | 0 | 0 | Conservative | ||
| 1986[8] | 25 | 29 | 0 | 3 | Conservative | ||
| 1990 | 29 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 3 | Labour | |
| 1994[c] | 40 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | Labour | |
| 1998[d] | 39 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Labour | |
| 2002[e] | 32 | 25 | 0 | 3 | — | Labour | |
| 2006 | 27 | 30 | 0 | 3 | No overall control | ||
| 2010 | 28 | 27 | 2 | 3 | No overall control | ||
| 2014 | 36 | 20 | 1 | 3 | Labour | ||
| 2018 | 34 | 17 | 6 | 3 | Labour | ||
| 2022[f] | 31 | 7 | 17 | 2 | Labour | ||
| 2026[11] | 32 | 4 | 19 | 2 | Labour | ||
Borough result maps
By-election results
1964-1968
There were no by-elections.[12]
1968-1971
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | L. Hirst | 1741 | |||
| Liberal | G. A. Bloxam | 748 | |||
| Labour | A. C. W. Holmes | 429 | |||
| Turnout | 27.9% | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | H. R. Veal | 1235 | |||
| Conservative | P. E. Burcombe | 540 | |||
| Liberal | P. H. E. Whiffin | 208 | |||
| Communist | J. A. Court | 56 | |||
| Independent | C. N. S. Killick | 16 | |||
| Turnout | 21.8% | ||||
1971-1974
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | M. J. Minto | 1,898 | |||
| Liberal | L. A. Sawyer | 766 | |||
| Labour | W. Daniels | 695 | |||
| Turnout | 29.4% | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | T. L. Harris | 1,324 | |||
| Conservative | F. H. Meakings | 1,287 | |||
| Liberal | P. C. Spratling | 1,105 | |||
| Turnout | 34.6% | ||||
1974-1978
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Diana M. Harris | 1,187 | |||
| Labour | Lester W. B. Augarde | 1,119 | |||
| Liberal | Keith N. Searby | 662 | |||
| Air Road Public Safety White Resident | Bill Boaks | 13 | |||
| Turnout | 34.2 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Vincent Talbot | 1,781 | |||
| Labour | Shirley E. Cornish | 786 | |||
| Insurance Official | David W. Cotton | 293 | |||
| Independent | Grace L. Giddins | 38 | |||
| Air Road Public Safety White Resident | Bill Boaks | 4 | |||
| Turnout | 28.6 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longthornton and Tamworth Residents | David J. Rogers | 1,833 | |||
| Labour | Leslie A. Payne | 1,248 | |||
| Liberal | Linda R. Pollard | 463 | |||
| Council Tenants & Residents | Leonard Jenner | 111 | |||
| Air Road Public Safety White Resident | Bill Boaks | 12 | |||
| Turnout | 35.8 | ||||
| Longthornton and Tamworth Residents hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Peggy Rowell | 1,955 | |||
| Conservative | Anthony M. Owen | 1,710 | |||
| Labour | Philip M. Jones | 765 | |||
| Air Road Public Safety White Resident | Bill Boaks | 7 | |||
| Turnout | 45.5 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Sellen M. Somers | 2,428 | |||
| Liberal | David Sawyer | 1,203 | |||
| Labour | Christine M. Bickerstaff | 303 | |||
| Air Road Public Safety White Resident | Bill Boaks | 18 | |||
| Turnout | 36.1 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
1978-1982
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William J. Perry | 1,513 | 55.7 | ||
| Labour | Patrick O'Sullivan | 666 | 24.5 | ||
| Liberal | Andrew C. Trompeteler | 449 | 16.5 | ||
| National Front | John R. Perryman | 72 | 2.7 | ||
| Public Safety, Democratic Monarchist, White Resident | Bill Boaks | 16 | 0.6 | ||
| Turnout | 42.2 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr George Watt.
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr William Hillhouse.
1982-1986
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Dennis V. Taylor | 1,470 | 52.4 | ||
| Alliance | Edward B. Baillie | 782 | 27.9 | ||
| Labour | Irene M. Miles | 555 | 19.8 | ||
| Turnout | 40.7 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Peter Glasspool.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longthornton and Tamworth Residents | Terry E. Ellis | 735 | 29.1 | ||
| Conservative | Colin F. Nixson | 728 | 28.9 | ||
| Labour | Irene M. Miles | 624 | 24.7 | ||
| Alliance | Michael Goldstone | 435 | 17.2 | ||
| Turnout | 35.2 | ||||
| Longthornton and Tamworth Residents gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr Michael Page.
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Nancy Bone.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Alan W. Hemsley | 1,440 | 51.7 | ||
| Labour | Alvin W. Biddulph | 718 | 25.8 | ||
| Alliance | Ronald A. Locke | 628 | 22.5 | ||
| Turnout | 40.8 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Robert Dilley.
1986-1990
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Barbara J. Mansfield | 2,017 | 50.5 | ||
| Labour | Slim Flegg | 1,223 | 30.6 | ||
| Alliance | Patricia E. Pearce | 752 | 18.8 | ||
| Turnout | 62.3 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr James Garwood.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Stephen J. Ashcroft | 2,653 | 53.8 | ||
| Alliance | Hugh Liversedge | 1,706 | 34.6 | ||
| Labour | William Bailey | 753 | 11.6 | ||
| Turnout | 74.2 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr David Mason.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John J. Ratcliffe | 1,711 | 57.0 | ||
| Labour | Paula A. Burnett | 990 | 33.0 | ||
| Alliance | Neil R. Rennie | 300 | 10.0 | ||
| Turnout | 43.3 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr David Williams.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merton Park RA | Bridget G. Smith | 1,436 | 41.7 | ||
| Conservative | James E. Smith | 1206 | 35.0 | ||
| Labour | Patrick R. O'Sullivan | 805 | 23.4 | ||
| Turnout | 52.9 | ||||
| Merton Park RA gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Kathryn Nicholls. The result meant that the Conservatives lost their one-seat majority on the council, placing the council under no overall control until the next election. Since this by-election, the Conservatives have yet to win back majority control of the council. This was the first election ever contested by the Merton Park Ward Residents Association, which had run in opposition to the council's proposed extension of the A24 relief road.[18]
1990-1994
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Michael F. Troy | 1,250 | 41.1 | ||
| Labour | Steven G. Conquest | 931 | 30.6 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Alison L. Willott | 558 | 18.4 | ||
| Independent Resident | Roger I. Logan | 225 | 7.4 | ||
| Green | Jacqueline L. Barrow | 76 | 2.5 | ||
| Turnout | 43.6 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Michael Menhinick.
1994-1998
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Andrew J. Judge | 1,403 | 58.5 | ||
| Conservative | Selvin Brown | 825 | 34.4 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Marc J.-Y. Plessier | 109 | 4.5 | ||
| Green | Rajeev K. Thacker | 61 | 2.5 | ||
| Turnout | |||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr David Proctor.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Joyce G. Paton | 700 | 42.5 | ||
| Conservative | Jean A. Fortescue | 552 | 33.5 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Stephen K. Harbron | 302 | 18.3 | ||
| Green | Rajeen K. Thacker | 94 | 5.7 | ||
| Turnout | |||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr Arthur Kennedy.
1998-2002
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Maurice H. Groves | 1,033 | 59.9 | +11.9 | |
| Labour | Michael A. Fitzgerald | 470 | 27.3 | −8.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Heather M. Hurst | 148 | 8.6 | −3.4 | |
| Green | Giles T. Barrow | 73 | 4.2 | −0.4 | |
| Majority | 563 | 32.6 | |||
| Turnout | 1,724 | 25.5 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Terence Daniels.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Gillian V. Lewis-Lavender | 984 | 49.5 | +24.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Heather M. Hurst | 723 | 36.4 | −5.6 | |
| Labour | Tony R. Giles | 279 | 14.0 | −14.3 | |
| Majority | 261 | 13.1 | |||
| Turnout | 1,986 | 27.8 | |||
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Jennifer Willott.
2002-2006
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Tony Giles.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ronald W. Wilson | 1,401 | 49.9 | +4.3 | |
| Labour | Terence J. Daniels | 576 | 20.5 | −2.1 | |
| UKIP | Adrian Roberts | 392 | 14.0 | +1.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Lina Akbar | 262 | 9.3 | −2.1 | |
| Green | Giles T. Barrow | 175 | 6.2 | −1.5 | |
| Majority | 825 | 29.4 | |||
| Turnout | 2,806 | 43.9 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Leslie Mutch.
2006-2010
There were no by-elections.[23]
2010-2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Linda Taylor | 1,837 | 47.6 | ||
| Labour | Louise Deegan | 931 | 24.1 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Dave Busby | 838 | 21.7 | ||
| Green | Richmond Crowhurst | 253 | 6.6 | ||
| Turnout | 48.0 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Tariq Ahmad.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Caroline Cooper-Marbiah | 1,685 | 72.2 | ||
| Conservative | Peter Lord | 441 | 18.9 | ||
| UKIP | Shafqat Janjua | 157 | 6.7 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Phil Ling | 52 | 2.2 | ||
| Turnout | 29.9 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr Gam Gurung.
2014-2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Jerome Neil | 1,436 | 71.0 | +11.5 | |
| Conservative | Susan Edwards | 282 | 13.9 | −1.0 | |
| UKIP | Richard Hilton | 191 | 9.4 | −10.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Asif Ashraf | 59 | 2.9 | −3.1 | |
| Green | John Barraball | 55 | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Majority | 1,154 | 57.1 | |||
| Turnout | 2,030 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was triggered by the death of Cllr Maxi Martin of the Labour Party.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Kelly Braund | 1,508 | 74.1 | +3.1 | |
| Conservative | Geraldine Kirby | 318 | 15.6 | +1.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Geoff Cooper | 98 | 4.8 | +1.9 | |
| Green | Phillip Maslin | 61 | 3.0 | +0.3 | |
| UKIP | Bob Grahame | 50 | 2.5 | −6.9 | |
| Majority | 1,190 | 58.4 | |||
| Turnout | 2,035 | 24.9 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Imran Uddin of the Labour Party.
2018-2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Jenifer Gould | 1,060 | 35.0 | +24.3 | |
| Labour | Ryan Barnett | 876 | 28.9 | −13.9 | |
| Conservative | Michael Paterson | 867 | 28.6 | −14.2 | |
| Green | Susie O'Connor | 158 | 5.2 | +5.2 | |
| UKIP | Andrew Mills | 68 | 2.2 | −1.4 | |
| Majority | 184 | 6.1 | |||
| Turnout | 2,030 | 41.8 | |||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | +19.1 | |||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Mark Kenny of the Labour Party.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Helena Dollimore | 1,859 | 54.4 | ||
| Conservative | Isaac Frimpong | 907 | 26.6 | ||
| Green | Pippa Maslin | 409 | 12.0 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Simon Jones | 241 | 7.1 | ||
| Majority | 952 | ||||
| Turnout | 3,416 | 41.4 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Kelly Braund of the Labour Party.
2022-2026
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Franca Ofeimu | 2,529 | 66.1 | ||
| Green | Sally Pannifex | 515 | 13.5 | ||
| Conservative | Suzanne Grocott | 509 | 13.3 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | William Woodward | 272 | 7.1 | ||
| Majority | 2,014 | 52.7 | |||
| Turnout | 3,825 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Natasha Irons of the Labour Party.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Shuile Syeda | 1,865 | 47.9 | ||
| Green | Pippa Maslin | 872 | 22.4 | ||
| Conservative | Gillian Lewis-Lavender | 687 | 17.6 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Asif Ashraf | 471 | 12.1 | ||
| Majority | 993 | 25.5 | |||
| Turnout | 3,896 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Helena Dollimore of the Labour Party.
Notes
- Liberal Party, 1964–1978; SDP–Liberal Alliance, 1982–1986.