Labour victor James Small-Edwards

LABOUR has taken the West Central London Assembly seat for the first time, ousting the Tory incumbent by just over 4,000 votes.

The constituency, which covers the boroughs Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, also backed Labour in the mayoral vote, on a day when incumbent Sadiq Khan won a historic third term.

Conservative Tony Devenish, who has held the West Central seat since 2016, said it has been a “huge honour” to represent the area, and that his priority “will always be the people in this part of London”.

James Small-Edwards, a Bayswater ward Westminster councillor, won with 46,831 votes to second-place Mr Devenish’s 42,578.

Cllr Small-Edwards said the result was “humbling” on a day when his party picked up both the local constituency and mayoral votes. He added: “I think it shows that our priorities as a party chime with those of ordinary Londoners, and that also is a story which I think is being played right across the country”. And he added continuing support for the cost of living crisis will be one of his key aims on the London Assembly, alongside more affordable and social housing and action to combat climate change.

Cllr Small-Edwards is the council’s deputy cabinet member for planning and economic development.

In the mayoral race Sadiq Khan won, securing over 275,000 votes more than Conservative candidate Susan Hall.

Cllr Devenish, who also represents Knightsbridge and Belgravia ward on the city council, said: “It’s been a huge honour, they are the three best London boroughs, and I am biased but it’s my home. The best parts of the country by far. The reality is my priority will always be the people in this part of London and I will serve them on Westminster Council.” He said he was determined to retain the three Tory parliamentary seats which form parts of West Central GLA constituency.

The first results to be announced were the local votes for the London-wide mayoral race, with Sadiq Khan securing more than 10,000 more than second-placed Susan Hall. It was the first time Labour had won in West Central.

Stephen Cowan, Labour leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, described the result as a “huge endorsement” for Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and added: “We’re winning significantly in areas that we’ve not won before, and while there’s no complacency, it bodes well for Chelsea and Fulham, the City of Westminster, and Kensington in the general election.”

Green Party candidate Rajiv Sinha, while acknowledging the mayoral result as “not surprising”, similarly expressed hope at picking up support in the constituency vote. “I think the constituency will go along more positive lines, just on account of my experience of campaigning and canvassing across all of West Central,” he said.

Local turnout was down when compared with the 2021 elections, from 39 per cent to 34.94 per cent. Mr Devenish won by just over 2,000 votes four years ago, after being run close by Labour’s Rita Begum.

WEST CENTRAL LONDON ASSEMBLY SEAT

DEVENISH, Tony Conservative
42,578

NOBLET, Christophe
Liberal Democrat
14,505

PATEMAN, Nicola
ReformUK
8,040

SINHA, Rajiv
Green Party
12,427

SMALL-EDWARDS, James Labour
46,831

LONDON MAYORAL VOTE: WEST CENTRAL

AMIN, Femy Animal Welfare Party – People, Animals, Environment
1,386

BINFACE, Count Count Binface for Mayor of
London
1,260

BLACKIE, Rob Liberal Democrat
7,663

CAMPBELL, Natalie Denise Independent
2,552

COX, Howard ReformUK – London Deserves Better
3,478

GALLAGHER, Amy Social Democratic Party
1,442
GARBETT, Zoë Green Party
5,984

GHULATI, Tarun Independent
1,100

HALL, Susan Mary The Conservative Party
43,405

KHAN, Sadiq Labour Party
54,481

MICHLI, Andreas Christoffi Independent
901

ROSE, Brian Benedict London Real Party – Transform London
350

SCANLON, Nick Britain First – No To Immigration
964