Key Points:
- Mayoral Re-election: Conservative candidate Jason Perry has been re-elected for a second term as the Executive Mayor of Croydon.
- Labour Majority: The Labour Party remains the largest single group on the council with 30 seats, but failed to reach the 36-seat threshold for overall control.
- Green Breakthrough: The Green Party secured a record-breaking 8 seats, doubling their previous presence and significantly disrupting the two-party dominance.
- Reform UK Entry: For the first time, Reform UK has gained representation on Croydon Council, winning 2 seats in New Addington South.
- Conservative Losses: Despite the Mayoral win, the Conservatives saw their seat count drop to 28, losing key battles to both Labour and Reform UK.
- Voter Turnout: High engagement was noted with a 41.02% turnout, involving 286,933 ballots, marking one of London’s largest local election counts.
CROYDON (Extra London News) May 14, 2026 — The political landscape of Croydon has been dramatically reshaped following a tense weekend of counting that saw Conservative Jason Perry retain the Mayoralty while his party lost its grip on the council chamber. Labour has emerged as the largest party with 30 councillors, yet the borough remains under “No Overall Control” as a surge in support for the Green Party and a historic breakthrough for Reform UK stripped both major parties of a clear mandate.
- Key Points:
- How did the Croydon 2026 election results impact the council’s power structure?
- What were the key seat changes and upsets in the 2026 Croydon election?
- Who won the Croydon Mayoral race and by what margin?
- What does the Green Party breakthrough mean for Croydon’s future?
- How did voter turnout and public sentiment affect the outcome?
- What are the next steps for Mayor Jason Perry?
How did the Croydon 2026 election results impact the council’s power structure?
The 2026 local elections have left Croydon Council in a state of political gridlock, characterised by a lack of overall control. According to the official results verified and declared by the Returning Officer, the 70-seat council is now a patchwork of five different political entities.
As reported by The Newsroom (Croydon Council), the final tally stands at:
- Labour: 30 seats
- Conservatives: 28 seats
- Green Party: 8 seats
- Liberal Democrats: 2 seats
- Reform UK: 2 seats
While Labour holds the most seats, they fall six short of the 36 required for a majority. This means Executive Mayor Jason Perry must now navigate a highly divided chamber to pass budgets and key policies. Writing for South London News, local reporters noted that while Perry remains “in charge” due to the direct mayoral system, the “breakthrough result” for the Greens has effectively ended the traditional two-party hegemony in the borough.
What were the key seat changes and upsets in the 2026 Croydon election?
The most significant shifts occurred in the north and south of the borough, where traditional strongholds crumbled under the pressure of smaller parties.
Despite gaining North Addington North from the Conservatives—where Kola Agboola and Afuah Ahorgah-Dorfia were elected—Labour suffered heavy losses to the Greens in central and northern wards. In Fairfield, a ward covering the town centre, a Green sweep saw Paul Ainscough, Ria Patel, and Esther Sutton take all three seats.
According to reports from Wikipedia’s verified election data, the ward of Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood saw Labour lose two seats, leaving the area split between the Liberal Democrats (represented by Claire Bonham) and the Green Party (represented by Natalie Vesty and Mark Adderley).
How did Reform UK make history in New Addington South?
In a result that sent shockwaves through the count at Bernard Weatherill House, the Conservatives lost their footing in New Addington South.
As reported by the Croydon Newsroom, Conservative stalwarts Lara Fish and Tony Pearson were unseated by Scott Holman and Adam Kellett of Reform UK. Kellett, a former Conservative councillor himself, helped secure Reform’s first-ever seats in the borough, capitalising on a significant swing away from the two main parties.
Who won the Croydon Mayoral race and by what margin?
The Mayoral count, which concluded on Friday, May 8, 2026, ahead of the full council results, confirmed Jason Perry as the winner for a second term. As reported by Develop Croydon, Perry was officially declared the victor at 5:15 pm, securing a second four-year term after first winning the inaugural mayoral election in 2022.
In a statement following his victory, Mayor Jason Perry focused on the borough’s economic future:
“I am honoured to be re-elected and look forward to championing Croydon’s investment, regeneration, and growth opportunities on a national stage.”
Mayor Perry’s victory came despite his party losing seats in the council chamber, a disconnect that suggests a personal mandate for his leadership style even as the Conservative brand faced challenges locally.
Explore More Croydon News
Croydon Council 2026: Party Manifestos, Jason Perry vs Labour Election London 2026
Jason Perry Re-elected Croydon Mayor 2026
What does the Green Party breakthrough mean for Croydon’s future?
The Green Party’s leap from two seats to eight is the most significant “third-party” growth in the council’s modern history. Ria Patel, leader of the Green group, now finds herself leading a significant voting bloc that could act as kingmakers on council committees.
As detailed by South London News, the Greens’ success was not limited to Fairfield. In Woodside and South Norwood, the representation is now split between Labour and the Greens.
In South Norwood, Tracey Jo Hague and Martyn Post (Green) were elected alongside Labour’s Melanie Felten, creating a multi-party representation that reflects the diverse political shift in the borough.
How did voter turnout and public sentiment affect the outcome?
The 41.02% turnout was remarkably high for a local election, with 286,933 residents casting their votes. This surge in participation appears to have benefited the insurgent parties.
The YouGov MRP model, which predicted a “seismic shift” in London local government back in April 2026, proved largely accurate for Croydon.
The model’s central estimate had projected a decline in Labour and Conservative dominance in favour of the Greens and Reform UK.
As reported by Journalist Robert Ward of the Croydon Local News, the sentiment on the ground was one of “fatigue with the status quo.” Ward noted that
“the high turnout in areas like Fairfield and New Addington South suggests that voters were specifically motivated to seek alternatives to the two-party system that has governed Croydon through its recent financial difficulties.”
What are the next steps for Mayor Jason Perry?
With no overall control, the council must now enter a period of negotiation. Mayor Perry is expected to represent the borough at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds shortly, where he will attempt to project a sense of stability despite the fractured council.
However, the reality at home is more complex. As reported by Leila Ben-Hassel of the Labour Party via the Croydon Newsroom, the opposition remains strong. Despite being the largest party, Labour’s Stuart King will have to decide whether to work with the Greens to challenge the Mayor’s executive decisions or focus on rebuilding Labour’s majority for the next cycle.
The 2026 results serve as a stark reminder that the “safe” political geography of Croydon has changed. With the Greens holding the balance of power in several wards and Reform UK establishing a base in the south, the next four years under Mayor Perry will likely be defined by compromise, coalition-building, and high-stakes political manoeuvring.
