# Waltham Forest London Borough Council elections

Waltham Forest London Borough Council in London is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2022, 60 councillors have been elected from 22 wards, with 2 or 3 councillors per ward.

## Council elections

Summary of the council composition after recent council elections, click on the year for full details of each election.
| Year | Labour | Conservative | Liberal Democrats | Independent | Notes |
| 1964 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 9 | |
| 1968 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1971 | 39 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1974 | 36 | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1978 | 36 | 21 | 0 | 0 | Boundary changes increased the number of seats by 11. |
| 1982 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1986 | 31 | 16 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1990 | 30 | 16 | 11 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 27 | 16 | 14 | 0 | Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same. |
| 1998 | 30 | 15 | 12 | 0 | Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same. |
| 2002 | 29 | 18 | 13 | 0 | Boundary changes increased the number of seats by 3. |
| 2006 | 26 | 15 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 44 | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 46 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 47 | 13 | 0 | 0 | Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same. |

## Borough result maps

* 2002 results map
* 2006 results map
* 2010 results map
* 2014 results map
* 2018 results map
* 2022 results map

## By-election results
### 1964-1968

There were no by-elections.

### 1968-1971

Leyton by-election, 17 September 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | P. L. Leighton | 1230 | |
| | Conservative | F. Barnes | 363 | |
| | Liberal | L. C. A. Roskilly | 95 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 16.8% |

### 1971-1974

Central by-election, 11 May 1972 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | H. M. Cohen | 1,324 | |
| | Conservative | Mrs E. J. White | 839 | |
| | Communist | R. A. Sayers | 78 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 21.4% |
Chapel End by-election, 11 May 1972 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | K. Gordon | 1,796 | |
| | Conservative | J. Watson | 1,396 | |
| | Liberal | G. E. Caryer | 306 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.1% |
St James Street by-election, 5 July 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | N. F. Gerrard | 1,056 | |
| | Liberal | M. P. O'Flanagan | 512 | |
| | Residents | D. R. South | 363 | |
| | Conservative | Mrs B. R. Eden | 180 | |
| | Ratepayers Association | H. L. Rider | 163 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.0% |

### 1974-1978

Chapel End by-election, 2 December 1976 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Reginald B. Lewis | 1,284 | |
| | Labour | Joseph Levy | 785 | |
| | National Front | Donald R. South | 356 | |
| | The Centre Party | Ronald W. Garner | 283 | |
| | Ratepayers | Wilfred Atkinson | 241 | |
| | Liberal | Barry R. Woodward | 188 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.0 |
Chingford Central by-election, 2 December 1976 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Graham F. Sinclair | 1,811 | |
| | Ratepayers | Henry J. Berry | 736 | |
| | Labour | Paul J. Diamond | 504 | |
| | National Front | John R. P. King | 407 | |
| | Liberal | Michael J. Mackrory | 260 | |
| | The Centre Party | Michael J. Page | 235 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.6 |
St James Street by-election, 21 April 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Robert C. Hammond | 1,090 | |
| | Conservative | Laurie Braham | 568 | |
| | National Front | Donald R. South | 396 | |
| | Liberal | George D. Bristow | 201 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.1 |

### 1990-1994

Leytonstone by-election, 15 October 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Jennifer Gray | 1,194 | 48.6 |
| | Lib Dem Focus Team | Jonathan H. Fryer | 969 | 39.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Thompson | 182 | 7.4 |
| | Independent | Colin R. Bex | 112 | 4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Patrick J. Hayes.

### 1994-1998

Wood Street by-election, 1 May 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Angela M. Bean | 2,718 | 49.5 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert S. Meadowcroft | 1,717 | 31.2 | −14.5 |
| | Conservative | Robert J. Brock | 1,079 | 19.6 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,001 | 18.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,514 | 63.1 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Neal A. Chubb.

### 1998-2002

Leytonstone by-election, 1 October 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ian Leslie | 997 | 47.3 | +0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John C. Howard | 965 | 45.8 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Matthew R. Sharp | 78 | 3.7 | −4.2 |
| | Independent | Roderick M. Milroy | 66 | 3.1 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 1.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,106 | 27.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Huw M. Morgan-Thomas.

### 2002-2006

Forest by-election, 15 May 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mashoodul F. Qureshi | 1,283 | 45.5 | +17.7 |
| | Labour | David G. Hayes | 717 | 25.4 | −12.9 |
| | Conservative | Julien A. S. Foster | 417 | 14.8 | +3.8 |
| | Independent | Mohammed Shafiq | 183 | 6.5 | +6.5 |
| | Green | Mark S. Dawes | 171 | 6.1 | −6.0 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Cecilia Prosper | 47 | 1.7 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 566 | 20.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,818 | 38.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Mohammed F. Rahman.
William Morris by-election, 4 September 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert J. Wheatley | 1,051 | 43.6 | +18.9 |
| | Labour | Geraldine Reardon | 932 | 38.7 | −11.9 |
| | Conservative | Kabir A. Sabar | 188 | 7.8 | −7.1 |
| | Green | Gary P. Lancet | 151 | 6.3 | +6.3 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Lee Rock | 84 | 3.5 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 119 | 4.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,406 | 30.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Martin J. O'Connor.
Valley by-election, 28 October 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Laurance A. Wedderburn | 791 | 36.9 | −17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Henry A. Boyle | 710 | 33.2 | +21.6 |
| | Labour | Margaret L. Broadley | 552 | 25.8 | −8.3 |
| | Respect | Christopher Dransfield | 88 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 81 | 3.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,141 | 27.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. David Divine.
Hoe Street by-election, 18 November 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arunes Sarkar | 774 | 40.4 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mohammad S. Diwan | 561 | 29.2 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | Graham F. Sinclair | 299 | 15.6 | −4.7 |
| | Green | Mark S. Dawes | 199 | 10.4 | −6.4 |
| | Socialist Alternative | Louise H. Thompson | 85 | 4.4 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 213 | 11.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,918 | 23.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Mohammed M. Nasim.
Leytonstone by-election, 14 July 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Marie E. Pye | 937 | 38.0 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Meher Khan | 765 | 31.3 | −2.4 |
| | Respect | Caroline M. Coleman | 354 | 14.5 | +14.5 |
| | Conservative | Julien A. S. Foster | 225 | 9.1 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Mark S. Dawes | 165 | 6.7 | −8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 172 | 6.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,446 | 30.9 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Ian Leslie.

### 2006-2010

Chingford Green by-election, 26 April 2007 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew P. J. Hemsted | 1,694 | 55.2 | −14.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham A. Woolnough | 1,022 | 33.3 | +14.3 |
| | Labour | Gerry A. Lyons | 208 | 6.8 | −4.2 |
| | UKIP | Robert J. Brock | 143 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 672 | 21.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,067 | 38.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Derek B. Arnold.
Leyton by-election, 14 February 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Winnifred F. Smith | 1,360 | 56.0 | +12.8 |
| | Labour | Khevyn R. Limbajee | 695 | 28.6 | −14.1 |
| | Independent | Carole A. Vincent* | 176 | 7.2 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | Edwin J. Northover | 108 | 4.4 | −2.1 |
| | Green | William J. Measure | 90 | 3.7 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 665 | 27.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,429 | 27.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the disqualification of Cllr. Miranda A. J. Grell. *No description (rather than independent). Candidate is a member of the Respect Party and was supported by the local branch. She was unable to use Respect as her description due to a split in the party. Current UK electoral law allows candidates to stand without any description rather than independent if preferred.
Forest by-election, 5 June 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Samina S. Safdar | 977 | 36.9 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | Jawade A. Liaqat | 927 | 35.0 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | Edwin J. Northover | 507 | 19.1 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Mark S. Dawes | 184 | 6.9 | −7.0 |
| | Left List | Makola Mayambika | 56 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 | 1.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,651 | 32.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Imran Abrahim.
Valley by-election, 6 November 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Ms. Jemma Hemsted | 1183 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Henry Boyle | 734 |
| | Labour | Geoffrey Hammond | 439 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John M. Gover.
Hale End & Highams Park by-election, 4 December 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ms. Jane E. Morgan | 1298 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicky R. Bason | 1295 |
| | Conservative | Sandeep D. Christian | 1223 |
| | Conservative | Ms. Sheree L. Rackham | 1155 |
| | Labour | Mohammed S. K. Ahmed | 264 |
| | Labour | Gerry Lyons | 241 |
| | Green | Daniel P. Perrett | 142 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John D. Beanse and the resignation of Cllr. John N. H. Penstone due to ill health.
Larkswood by-election, 19 March 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Edwin J. Northover | 1393 |
| | Labour | Ms. Henrietta A. Jackson | 255 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Henry A. Boyle | 144 |
| | Green | Daniel P. Perrett | 102 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. John F. Walter.

### 2010-2014

Larkswood by-election, 12 July 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Moss | 1392 | |
| | Labour | Peter Woodrow | 472 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Woolnough | 79 | |
| | Green | Bill Measure | 70 | |
| | National Liberal | James O'Rourke | 64 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 24.4% |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Edwin J. Northover.

### 2014-2018

William Morris by-election, 29 June 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Umar Ali | 1,923 | 68.4 | +11.5 |
| | Green | Rebecca Tully | 524 | 18.6 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Afzal Akram | 365 | 13.0 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,813 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was triggered by the death of Councillor Nadeem Ali, of the Labour Party.

### 2018-2022

Hatch Lane by-election, 6 May 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Afzal Akram | 2,072 | 50.9 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Catherine Burns | 1,565 | 38.4 | +2.3 |
| | Green | Robert Tatam | 266 | 6.5 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Henry Boyle | 170 | 4.2 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 507 | 12.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,073 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was triggered by the death of Councillor Geoff Walker, of the Conservative Party.
Grove Green by-election, 10 June 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Uzma Rasool | 1,301 | 58.4 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Arran Angus | 541 | 24.3 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Mark Dawes | 205 | 9.2 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative | Shahamima Khan | 142 | 6.4 | −0.1 |
| | TUSC | Kevin Parslow | 40 | 1.8 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 760 | 34.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,229 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was triggered by the death of Councillor Chris Robbins, of the Labour Party.
Lea Bridge by-election, 10 June 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jennifer Whilby | 1,176 | 50.0 | −8.6 |
| | Independent | Claire Weiss | 441 | 18.8 | +18.8 |
| | Conservative | Sazimet Imre | 436 | 18.6 | +8.3 |
| | Green | RoseMary Warrington | 181 | 7.7 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Naomi McCarthy | 116 | 4.9 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 735 | 31.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,350 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Yemi Osho, of the Labour Party.

### 2022-2026

Higham Hill by-election, 26 October 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Shumon Ali-Rahman | 924 | 57.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Lewis | 268 | 16.6 |
| | Green | Abigail Woodman | 198 | 12.3 |
| | TUSC | Nancy Taaffe | 144 | 8.9 |
| | Conservative | Moufazzal Bhuiyan | 78 | 4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 656 | 40.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,612 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Alistair Strathern MP, of the Labour Party.