Barnet Conservatives secured the highest number of votes of any party in the local elections on 7 May, winning the popular vote with 35% compared to Labour’s 27%. However, with both main parties holding 31 seats each and one Green councillor, no single party has an outright majority. Labour retained control by the narrowest of margins, winning Whetstone ward by just eight votes.
Despite this clear vote of no confidence in the outgoing Labour administration, the council’s constitution allowed the Labour Mayor’s casting vote to determine the formation of the next administration in the event of the Green councillor abstaining. The Green councillor however, voted with the Labour group against the Conservative nomination leaving only one option for leadership of the council - which she voted against nonetheless. We were not prepared to enter any arrangement that would hand the single Green councillor disproportionate influence over the borough’s future and leave the administration of the borough in complete chaos.
In the interests of residents and to ensure the council had stable leadership, we made clear that if our nomination for Leader was defeated, we would not block an alternative appointment. Councillors’ primary duty is to serve the best interests of residents, not to engage in political games that risk instability and disruption to local services.
While we will not form the next administration, we have secured a strong opposition position from which we can robustly hold Labour to account. To reflect the new political balance, both groups have agreed a set of working principles, facilitated by the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer.
This is not a coalition. We remain fully independent and will provide constructive yet rigorous opposition on behalf of Barnet residents.
Under this arrangement, Conservatives will have a voice at Cabinet and chair key scrutiny committees, including those overseeing council finances and environmental policy. This will enable us to challenge the administration effectively on the issues that matter most: responsible spending, service delivery, and infrastructure.
We did not secure control of the borough on this occasion, but the election result demonstrated strong public support for Conservative values and priorities. Over the next four years, we will work tirelessly to maximise our influence, ensure taxpayers’ money is spent wisely, and ensure residents’ voices are heard at every level.