Greenwich election: Tories avoid complete wipeout as Labour win big

The Conservatives avoided a complete wipeout by holding onto nine seats in the south of Greenwich.

The traditionally Labour council was aiming to take every seat, but the Tories avoided that and held on to all nine seats in Coldharbour and New Eltham, Eltham South, and Blackheath Westcombe.

Cllr Matt Hartley, leader of the opposition, said it was a tremendous result for the Tories.

He said: “Labour tried to win all 51 seats at the town hall this year, turning Greenwich into a one-party state.

“Instead, residents backed our very clear message that Greenwich needs an opposition – able to provide residents with a strong, independent voice when decisions are made.

“Over the next four years we will act on that mandate.  As the only Opposition to Labour on the Council, this is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.”

There was an influx of independent candidates this year, with the Plumstead Party and the Abbey Wood Independents hoping to take seats from Labour.

The Plumstead Party came second in two of the three wards they stood candidates in, and the AWI came second – losing to the previous leader Denise Hyland and her Labour colleagues.

Controversial issues such as the Silvertown Tunnel and the revived resident led campaign against the “toxic” cruise liner in Enderby Wharf may have contributed to the Greens coming a strong second in Peninsula.

Cllr Hartley added: “These elections also showed that all too often, residents feel their views are not taken seriously by the council – on issues small and large, including on developments that threaten our air quality like current plans for the cruise liner terminal.

“This surely cannot now go ahead without onshore power.”

Labour have been in power in Greenwich since the 1970s and will rule again with 42 councillors.

Next door in Lewisham, where the count is taking place today, Labour will be hoping to snatch the only opposing seat from the Greens to have full autonomy.