# Merton London Borough Council elections

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.

## Local political parties
### Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association

Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association is a residents association in the Longthornton area, which lies in the triangle between Pollards Hill, Streatham Vale and Mitcham Eastfields. Between 1964 and 1994, LTRA contested elections in Merton, initially in the Mitcham Central ward. After the borough's wards were redrawn in 1978 and the Mitcham Central ward abolished, the LTRA contested elections in the Longthornton ward.
LTRA won between three and four seats in the elections between 1964 and 1978. At the 1982 election, it was defeated by the Conservatives, who took all three seats in Longthornton. It subsequently regained a seat at a by-election in March 1984 and retook all three seats in the 1986 election. At the 1994 election, LTRA lost two seats to Labour. This was the last election that was contested by LTRA. By the time of the 1998 election, its last councillor no longer sat for the party.

### Merton Park Ward Residents Association

Merton Park Ward Residents Association is a residents association in the Merton Park ward. The MPWRA has two councillors on Merton London Borough Council, and for this purpose is registered as the political party Merton Park Ward Independent Residents.
The MPWRA was formed in 1989 in order to contest a by-election that October in the Merton Park ward, caused by the resignation of a Conservative councillor. The MPWRA opposed the proposed extension of the A24 relief road across a corner of the Merton Park Conservation Area, which required the demolition of several Victorian houses. At the by-election, Bridget Smith was elected for the MPWRA; this hung the council. In the following year's local elections, the MPWRA gained all three council seats of the Merton Park ward, becoming the third-largest party on the council. The A24 relief road was not extended.
The MPWRA held every seat in the ward in all subsequent elections, although the number of seats for the ward was reduced to two ahead of the 2022 elections. After the 2010 elections, the MPWRA provided support for a minority Labour administration until Labour regained a majority at the 2014 elections. Following seat gains for the Liberal Democrats on other wards at the 2018 elections, the MPWRA became the fourth-largest party on the council.
Since its founding, the MPWRA has campaigned for the redevelopment of Nelson Hospital and the regeneration of Morden's town centre. The MPWRA publishes a quarterly local publication known as Forum.
| Election | Seats | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes | Borough-wide result | Borough-wide result | Councillors | Councillors | Councillors |
| Election | Seats | # | % in ward | +/- | % in borough | Position | Administration | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1990 | 3 | 5,567 | 51.1% | n/a | 3.1% | 3rd | Labour | Bridget Smith | Dese Child | Neville Beddoe |
| 1994 | 3 | 5,860 | 59.3% | 8.2% | 3.6% | 3rd | Labour | Bridget Smith | Dese Child | Neville Beddoe |
| 1998 | 3 | 4,415 | 52.4% | 6.9% | 3.4% | 3rd | Labour | Bridget Smith | Dese Child | John Nelson Jones |
| 2002 | 3 | 4,334 | 54.1% | 1.7% | 3.4% | 3rd | Labour | Jillian Aston | Peter Southgate | John Nelson Jones |
| 2006 | 3 | 4,815 | 50.0% | 4.1% | 3.0% | 3rd | Conservative minority | Karin Forbes | Peter Southgate | Krysia Williams |
| 2010 | 3 | 7,572 | 53.0% | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3rd | Labour minority | Karin Forbes | Peter Southgate | John Sargeant |
| 2014 | 3 | 6,222 | 63.7% | 10.7% | 3.7% | 3rd | Labour | Edward Foley | Peter Southgate | John Sargeant |
| 2018 | 3 | 5,898 | 56.7% | 7.0% | 3.3% | 4th | Labour | Edward Foley | Peter Southgate | Dickie Wilkinson |
| 2022 | 2 | 5,898 | 59.9% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 4th | Labour | Edward Foley | Stephen Mercer |

### Borough result maps

* 1990 results map
* 2002 results map
* 2006 results map
* 2010 results map
* 2014 results map
* 2018 results map
* 2022 results map

## List of council elections

* 1964 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1968 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1971 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1974 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1978 Merton London Borough Council election (boundary changes increased the number of seats by three)
* 1982 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1986 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1990 Merton London Borough Council election
* 1994 Merton London Borough Council election (boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 1998 Merton London Borough Council election (boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 2002 Merton London Borough Council election (boundary changes increased the number of seats by three)
* 2006 Merton London Borough Council election
* 2010 Merton London Borough Council election
* 2014 Merton London Borough Council election
* 2018 Merton London Borough Council election
* 2022 Merton London Borough Council election (boundary changes reduced the number of seats by three)

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

There were no by-elections.

### 1968-1971

Wimbledon North by-election, 4 July 1968 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Miss L. Hirst | 1741 | |
| | Liberal | G. A. Bloxam | 748 | |
| | Labour | A. C. W. Holmes | 429 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 27.9% |
Mitcham West by-election, 15 October 1970 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 21.8% |

### 1971-1974

Wimbledon North by-election, 26 October 1972 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Miss M. J. Minto | 1,898 | |
| | Liberal | Mrs L. A. Sawyer | 766 | |
| | Labour | Mrs W. Daniels | 695 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.4% |
Mitcham North by-election, 14 June 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | T. L. Harris | 1,324 | |
| | Conservative | F. H. Meakings | 1,287 | |
| | Liberal | P. C. Spratling | 1,105 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.6% |

### 1974-1978

Wimbledon South by-election, 19 September 1974 :
| Party | 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 | William G. Boaks | 13 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | |
West Barnes by-election, 20 March 1975 :
| Party | 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 | William G. Boaks | 4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 28.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Mitcham Central by-election, 8 May 1975 :
| Party | 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 | William G. Boaks | 12 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.8 |
| | Longthornton and Tamworth Residents hold | Longthornton and Tamworth Residents hold | Swing | |
Cannon Hill by-election, 30 October 1975 :
| Party | 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 | William G. Boaks | 7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.5 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | |
Wimbledon West by-election, 27 November 1975 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Sellen M. Somers | 2,428 | |
| | Liberal | David W. G. Sawyer | 1,203 | |
| | Labour | Christine M. Bickerstaff | 303 | |
| | Air Road Public Safety White Resident | William G. Boaks | 18 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### 1978-1982

Merton Park by-election, 8 May 1980 :
| Party | 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 | William G. Boaks | 16 | 0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. George Watt.
Ravensbury by-election, 22 October 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Alliance | Patricia M. Forster | 1,300 | 41.9 |
| | Labour | Nancy Bone | 1,142 | 36.8 |
| | Conservative | William P. Keen | 661 | 21.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.8 |
| | Alliance gain from Labour | Alliance gain from Labour | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. William A. Hillhouse.

### 1982-1986

Lower Morden by-election, 23 June 1983 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Peter J. Glasspool.
Longthornton by-election, 15 March 1984 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.2 |
| | Longthornton and Tamworth Residents gain from Conservative | Longthornton and Tamworth Residents gain from Conservative | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Michael L. Page.
Ravensbury by-election, 15 March 1984 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Paul B. Martin | 1,674 | 55.6 |
| | Conservative | Veronica J. Brooke | 833 | 27.7 |
| | Alliance | Edward B. Baillie | 504 | 16.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Nancy Bone.
Lower Morden by-election, 14 June 1984 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Robert A. Dilley.

### 1986-1990

Pollards Hill by-election, 19 March 1987 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. James B. Garwood.
Hillside by-election, 11 June 1987 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Stephen J. Ashcroft | 2,653 | 53.8 |
| | Alliance | Hugh M.G. Liversedge | 1,706 | 34.6 |
| | Labour | William Bailey | 753 | 11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. David Mason.
Cannon Hill by-election, 26 November 1987 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. David T. Williams.
Merton Park by-election, 19 October 1989 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Merton Park Residents | Bridget G. Smith | 1,436 | 41.7 |
| | Conservative | James E. Smith | 1206 | 35.0 |
| | Labour | Patrick R. O'Sullivan | 805 | 23.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.9 |
| | Merton Park Residents gain from Conservative | Merton Park Residents gain from Conservative | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Kathryn E. 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.

### 1990-1994

West Barnes by-election, 1 October 1992 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Michael J. G. Menhinick.

### 1994-1998

Figge's Marsh by-election, 16 March 1995 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. David R. Proctor.
Durnsford by-election, 29 June 1995 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Arthur M. Kennedy.

### 1998-2002

Lower Morden by-election, 15 June 2000 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 563 | 32.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,724 | 25.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Terence J. Daniels.
West Barnes by-election, 9 November 2000 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 261 | 13.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,986 | 27.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Jennifer Willott.

### 2002-2006

Ravensbury by-election, 6 March 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stephen Alambritis | 1,014 | 46.4 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative | Barbara J. Mansfield | 942 | 43.1 | +15.0 |
| | UKIP | Adrian K. J. Roberts | 116 | 5.3 | +5.3 |
| | Green | Richard M. Evans | 112 | 5.1 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 3.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,184 | 33.7 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Tony Giles.
Lower Morden by-election, 10 June 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald W. Wilson | 1,401 | 49.9 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Terence J. Daniels | 576 | 20.5 | −2.1 |
| | UKIP | Adrian K. J. 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 | Majority | Majority | 825 | 29.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,806 | 43.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Leslie D. Mutch.

### 2006-2010

There were no by-elections.

### 2010-2014

Wimbledon Park by-election, 3 May 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Ms. Linda Taylor | 1,837 | 47.6 |
| | Labour | Ms. Louise Deegan | 931 | 24.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Busby | 838 | 21.7 |
| | Green | Richmond Crowhurst | 253 | 6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 48.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Tariq M. Ahmad.
Colliers Wood by-election, 8 August 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ms. 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 | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was called following the death of Cllr. Gam Gurung.

### 2014-2018

St Helier by-election, 19 May 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jerome Neil | 1,436 | 71.0 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | Susan Edwards | 282 | 13.9 | −1.0 |
| | UKIP | Richard Alexander Hilton | 191 | 9.4 | −10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Asif Ashraf | 59 | 2.9 | −3.1 |
| | Green | John Charles Barraball | 55 | 2.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,154 | 57.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,030 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was triggered by the death of Cllr. Maxi Martin of the Labour Party.
St Helier by-election, 20 July 2017 :
| 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 | Phillipa Zielfa Maslin | 61 | 3.0 | +0.3 |
| | UKIP | Bob Grahame | 50 | 2.5 | −6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,190 | 58.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,035 | 24.9 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Imran Uddin of the Labour Party.

### 2018-2022

Cannon Hill by-election, 20 June 2019 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 184 | 6.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,030 | 41.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | +19.1 | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Mark Kenny of the Labour Party.
St. Helier by-election, 6 May 2021 :
| 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 | Majority | Majority | 952 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,416 | 41.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Kelly Braund of the Labour Party.

### 2022-2026

Figge's Marsh by-election, 4 July 2024 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,014 | 52.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,825 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Natasha Irons of the Labour Party.
St Helier by-election, 4 July 2024 :
| 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 | Majority | Majority | 993 | 25.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,896 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr. Helena Dollimore of the Labour Party.