![\"Voters](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/london-voting-1-1.jpg\")
\t\tCity AM is previewing local election votes taking place in every London borough.\t<\/p>\n\t\t\tThursday 23 April 2026 1:20 am
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\tWednesday 22 April 2026 4:02 pm\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\tCity AM is previewing local election votes taking place in every London borough.\t<\/p>\n
Voters go to the polls in Hackney for the local elections against the backdrop of a council tax hike and a government funding surge, the previously Labour-dominated borough looks to be a testing ground for Green support in London.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 2022, Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s party scored 50 councillors compared to just five for the Conservatives and two for the Greens.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But since the election the Conservatives and Greens have each picked up an extra Council seat through by-elections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Going into this set of elections, Zack Polanski\u2019s<\/a> insurgent left party is targeting both control of the council and the mayoralty.\u00a0<\/p>\n This would be a major upset for Hackney local politics. Labour have had a strong grip over the local authority, holding overall control for 46 of the last 50 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Council tax<\/a> for residents is set to rise by \u00a394 for the average Band D home, in a 4.8 per cent increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n As part of the national \u2018Fair Funding Review\u2019 of council spending, the government has boosted funding by 25 per cent in the borough.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n \t\t\tLondon Local Elections 2026: Who will win in Ealing?<\/a><\/p>\n Hackney has been home to some of the most high-profile voices on the British left, including veteran left-wing Labour MP Diane Abbott.\u00a0<\/p>\n And there have been reports that, when it comes to the general election itself, Polanski himself is eyeing up a seat in the borough.\u00a0<\/p>\n Greens eye up Hackney mayoralty\u00a0<\/p>\n The local authority is one of five local authorities in London to have a directly-elected mayor, who takes direct responsibility for housing, waste collection and local regeneration projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n The role was created in 2002, following a referendum vote in favour of creating the position.\u00a0<\/p>\n Incumbent Labour mayor Caroline Woodley has been in the job since 2023, when she won a by-election.<\/p>\n Green candidate Zoe Garbett has made gains in her previous two runs for the mayoralty, finishing second with 24.5 per cent of the vote last time around.\u00a0<\/p>\n City AM is previewing local election votes taking place in every London borough. Click here<\/a> for a full overview of May 7.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n