The final political map for Croydon is now clear following the declaration of all ward results in the 2026 local elections. The results, confirmed by the Returning Officer throughout a day of intense counting, reveal a borough navigating a complex political transition with significant gains for smaller parties alongside traditional strongholds.
These council results follow the confirmation of Jason Perry’s second term as Executive Mayor, providing a clearer picture of the borough’s political direction for the next four years. While the Mayoral office remains in Conservative hands, the ward-by-ward breakdown shows a diverse electorate that has increasingly looked beyond the two-party system.
Early morning declarations see Conservatives hold southern strongholds
The counting process began with early victories for the Conservative Party in the southern and central parts of the borough. At 10:53, Andrew Robert Price secured Park Hill and Whitgift for the Local Conservatives, setting a trend that continued through the morning. Selsdon and Addington Village followed shortly after, with Joseph Lee and Robert Charles Ward both elected under the Conservative banner.
In Addiscombe East, the electorate demonstrated a split preference, returning both Jeet Bains for the Conservatives and Maddie Henson for the Labour & Co-operative Party. This ward remains one of the most closely contested areas in the borough, reflecting a trend where residents face split power through tactical voting or divided local priorities. Meanwhile, Shirley North and Shirley South remained firmly Conservative, with Sue Bennett, Mark Johnson, and Richard Rishi Chatterjee securing a clean sweep in the North.
Fairfield elects three Green councillors in historic sweep
One of the most significant shifts occurred in Fairfield, where the Green Party achieved a total takeover. Ria Patel, Esther Sutton, and Paul Wyn Ednyfed Ainscough were all elected at 13:01, signaling a major endorsement of environmental and community-focused policies in the heart of Croydon. This result was mirrored later in the day in South Norwood, where Tracey Jo Hague and Martyn Post also secured seats for the Green Party.
Further diversification of the council chamber was seen in New Addington South. In a result that drew immediate attention from political analysts, Scott Holman and Adam Kellett of Reform UK were elected at 14:32. This marks a significant breakthrough for the party in a traditionally Labour-leaning area, suggesting a shift in the local political alignment of the New Addington community.
Labour maintains grip on northern wards as final tallies arrive
As the afternoon progressed, the Labour Party solidified its presence in its traditional northern heartlands. Waddon returned a full slate of Labour & Co-operative candidates, including Rowenna Frances Davis, Sam James Gary Attwater, and Ellily Ponnuthurai. This pattern was repeated in Thornton Heath, where Jose Piedade Fernandes, Vicky Ekua Newton, and Ben Taylor were all elected.
The Liberal Democrats also maintained a presence in the borough, with Claire Elizabeth Bonham winning in Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, and Gill Hickson securing a seat in Old Coulsdon. The latter was another split result, with Conservative Margaret Bird taking the second available seat in that ward.
The final results arrived at 16:40 from West Thornton, where Janet Campbell, Rym Daoud, and Stuart Thomas King were all elected for the Labour Party. With all declarations now formal, the focus shifts to the first full council meeting where the newly elected representatives will take their seats to address the borough’s ongoing financial and social challenges.
Source: Croydon Council
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