The Conservatives gained seats to push their number of councillors to 35 and retain overall control of Bromley Council
The Conservatives won comfortably in Bromley today, despite many predicting a Reform takeover
The Conservatives have maintained control in Bromley despite many predicting a Reform takeover in the South East London borough.
YouGov polling had Reform and the Conservatives neck and neck before the election but it was the Tories who emerged victorious, ultimately winning 35 seats while Reform only won six. The party also failed to make any significant dent in Bexley Council, only taking Havering Council in London despite big gains elsewhere in England.
The Conservatives added two seats to their majority and will continue the control they have had over Bromley since 2001. Council Leader Colin Smith said he was “absolutely delighted” that his party was still in charge at Bromley Council.
He said: “Reading the media, reading the websites, we were apparently going to lose a lot of seats and lose control of the council.
Bromley Council Leader Colin Smith said he was “absolutely delighted” to be re-elected
“We’ve proved through hard work and great cooperation with our residents that by sending a strong, positive message about Bromley being London’s best borough and the reasons for it, we have increased the number of councillors we started this election with.”
Cllr Smith thanked all the residents of Bromley, those who voted Conservative and those who did not, and said the Tory win was a “great result for the people of Bromley” as it gave them “continuity over what is going to be four incredibly difficult years” due to the authority’s reduction in central Government funding.
Labour have retained their status as the opposition party in Bromley despite losing three seats. They now have eight councillors, all of whom are located in wards to the north-west of the borough.
Labour Leader Simon Jeal said it was “disappointing” and a “shame” to lose three “fantastic” councillors. He also admitted that he felt many people had voted for Labour to keep Reform out of Bromley.
Labour Leader Simon Jeal admitted he thought some residents had voted Labour to keep Reform out of Bromley
Cllr Jeal said: “We are still the opposition party. We’ve seen Reform really underperforming in Bromley compared to what many thought was going to be a Reform takeover possibly.
“So I think actually in many respects this is not the outcome we were hoping for, but it’s certainly not the worst outcome we were fearing.”
Reform UK Bromley Chairman Alan Cook, who lost his seat in Bromley Common & Holwood, said he was “disappointed” with the day’s results. He said: “We will regroup later on and pick through the results and see where it’s all gone wrong.”
Mr Cook said that by voting Conservative, the people of Bromley had chosen “more managed decline and bankruptcy”.
Reform UK Bromley’s Chairman Alan Cook (left) said the people of Bromley had chosen “more managed decline and bankruptcy”
Cllr Christopher Marlow retained his seat on the council and is one of six Reform members in Bromley.
He said: “Our work over the next four years is to highlight where Bromley Council are not doing things as well as they could and show where we would be prepared to take tougher decisions than the administration.
“We need to show that to the electorate in four years’ time, and hopefully we will increase our number of councillors further.”
The Liberal Democrats gained a seat, bringing their total councillors up to six. The Lib Dems now completely control Beckenham and Bromley Town. Independent group Chislehurst Matters retained their three councillors in Chislehurst, with all three being elected for a second term.
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