London local elections: What were the results in Merton?

"The party returned 32 councillors across the authority's 57 seats a modest gain of one compared to 2022 extending its dominance since 2014. The Liberal Democrats, who had aimed to unseat Labour and strengthen their south-west London stronghold, secured 19 seats, an improvement on their 2022 result despite falling short of their ultimate goal. Meanwhile, the Conservatives held their ground in Wimbledon Village but lost three councillors elsewhere."

"They included local leader Nick McLean, who was defeated by the Liberal Democrats in Cannon Hill ward. Merton Park, which includes Morden, re-elected its two independent councillors, Stephen Mercer and Edward Foley, who together secured 59 per cent of the vote in the ward. Elsewhere, the Greens and Reform failed to elect a single candidate."

"It means good continuity and a continuation of the good things we are doing. Addressing pre-election talk of a potential Lib Dem win, he said: I thought the Lib Dems were dewy-eyed about the prospect of Ed Davey turning up to claim his fourth south London borough. This is about local issues, this is all about the street on your road. I think if you make that differentiation, people will think and not want to gamble it all away."

"Councillor Anthony Fairclough, leader of the Merton Liberal Democrats, said: These results show that more and more residents across the borough are putting their trust in the Liberal Democrats to stand up for them and focus on the issues that matter most locally. Liberal Democrat gains from both Labour and the Conservatives prove there is a growing appetite for change, and that residents are putting their trust in Lib Dem councillors to stand up for their communities."

Labour returned 32 councillors across 57 seats, gaining one seat compared with 2022 and extending dominance since 2014. Liberal Democrats won 19 seats, improving on their 2022 result but not reaching their goal of unseating Labour and strengthening their south-west London base. Conservatives held their position in Wimbledon Village but lost three councillors in other areas, including local leader Nick McLean, defeated in Cannon Hill ward by Liberal Democrats. Merton Park re-elected independent councillors Stephen Mercer and Edward Foley, who together secured 59% of the vote in the ward. Greens and Reform failed to elect any candidates. Labour’s former leader Stephen Alambritis emphasized continuity and local issues, while Liberal Democrat leader Anthony Fairclough cited growing resident trust in Liberal Democrats to focus on local matters.

Read at www.standard.co.uk