![\"London](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/london-voting-9.jpg\")
\t\tHarrow remains the ultimate defensive priority for the Conservative Party\t<\/p>\n\t\t\tThursday 23 April 2026 2:47 am
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\tWednesday 22 April 2026 3:12 pm\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\tHarrow remains the ultimate defensive priority for the Conservative Party\t<\/p>\n
What could have become the heartlands for Jeremy Corbyn\u2019s Your Party may represent the shortcomings of the former Labour leader\u2019s new venture, as well as the impact of travails of his old comrades in Westminster.<\/p>\n
Newham is Jeremy Corbyn\u2019s worst nightmare. A fertile seat for progressive politics, almost all of its wards have been Labour-dominated as long as the borough has existed.<\/p>\n
The party swept the board at the last local elections, winning all 66 seats. But as Labour\u2019s appeal has waned, one-party politics has given way to challenge from the left, even if it\u2019s not being led by Your Party, Corbyn\u2019s start up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Newham is the third-most populous and the youngest borough in London and is home to the Olympic Park that hosted the 2012 games. It features one of the country\u2019s lowest white British populations, along with neighbouring Tower Hamlets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Newham missed opportunity for Your Party<\/p>\n
A few years ago, this would have been exactly the type of area Corbyn had in mind when he devised his ill-fated left-wing alternative party. Young, progressive, diverse voters who feel left behind by a centrist Labour should, in theory, have flocked the party he shared with Zarah Sultana.<\/p>\n
Not anymore. Following Your Party\u2019s implosion into infighting, its presence at this year\u2019s local elections looks set to be all but negligible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Very few candidates will stand directly as Your Party representatives. Corbyn\u2019s vehicle has instead thrown its weight around a small list of independents in target areas, including the Newham Independents Party.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\tLondon local elections 2026: Who will win in the borough of Islington?<\/a><\/p>\n The NIP had five councillors at the end of last year but one defected to become an independent in January, and the insurgent Greens will hope to cannibalise votes from its progressive competitors as Zack Polanski\u2019s party eyes huge gains in London.<\/p>\n The NIP are, like the Greens, putting Palestine at the top of their issues list, as well as proposing to freeze council tax and end a controversial emissions-based parking system.<\/p>\n Labour has structural backing<\/p>\n In Newham, Labour has an upper hand for structural reasons, as it has in many London boroughs, with a strong campaigning base and a backbone of MPs.<\/p>\n Newham\u2019s three MPs are in Starmer\u2019s party, with Stephen Timms \u2013 East Ham\u2019s MP since 1994 \u2013 joined by James Asser and Uma Kumaran at the last general election.\u00a0<\/p>\n On paper, Newham could be one of Labour\u2019s best shots of hanging on to control of a London council. It has a strong history of being Labour run. There is a fragmented opposition to the left and a minimal challenge to the right.\u00a0<\/p>\n But, for Labour right now, nothing is straightforward. Electoral pundits are suggesting Newham could fall into no overall control in a chaotic toss-up between leftwing parties.\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