Verdict on elections in Southwark & Lambeth

The Southwark-based Electoral Reform Society has delivered its verdict on the 4 May local elections.

The electoral system has produced a situation where the Conservatives are effectively the Dulwich party, Labour the Camberwell party and the Lib Dems the Bermondsey party in terms of council representation but not in terms of votes. This hinders all the parties in attempting to govern in the interests of the entire borough.

The local election result in Lambeth in 2006 was very unusual. It was the one council anywhere in the country that Labour gained. It was also gained despite Labour’s vote actually falling a little since the last borough election in 2002.

Read the full report [PDF]