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Labour secures second London by-election victory as 'Burnham bounce' continues

Molly Hartill wins Myatt's Fields ward with 46.7% of the vote, while Reform loses ground in capital

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Labour has won a second London by-election in as many days, with candidate Molly Hartill taking 46.7% of the vote to hold the Myatt's Fields ward in Lambeth, providing fresh evidence of a so-called 'Burnham bounce' under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The by-election was called following the death in August of Councillor Annie Gallop, who had served on the council for more than a decade. Labour's Molly Hartill secured 46.7% of the vote, a 10.3% increase from the party's share in May. Green Party candidate Sonia Winifred came second, with Liberal Democrat Christopher French in third.

Posting on X, Ms Hartill wrote: 'SO so proud to be elected as the @LambethLabour Cllr for Myatt's Fields. It's been a local campaign focussed on local issues and hope. I'm so excited to represent Myatt's on @lambeth_council and carry on the work of our brilliant late colleague, Annie.'

Fellow Labour councillor Dominic Lynch added: 'I could not be happier for the people of Myatt's Fields, what a champion they have in Molly!'

The Lambeth result came a day after Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election with 47% of the vote, taking the seat formerly held by retiring Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Ms Abdi-Wali declared the victory a win for 'hope' over fear and division.

The results provide fresh evidence of a 'Burnham bounce', with Labour enjoying an upturn in London polls since Andy Burnham succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. There has been a dramatic turnaround for the party in the capital since the disastrous local elections earlier this year, which were partly responsible for Sir Keir stepping down.

Meanwhile, Reform has lost vote share in 10 of the 11 London council by-elections since May.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Confirms Labour's electoral recovery in London under Prime Minister Andy Burnham after the party's poor local election results earlier this year
  • Shows Reform UK continues to struggle in capital by-elections, failing to build on any national momentum
  • Provides Labour with momentum and a morale boost ahead of any future electoral contests

Background

Labour has held the Myatt's Fields ward in Lambeth for many years. The by-election was triggered by the death of long-serving Labour Councillor Annie Gallop in August. The result follows Labour's victory in the high-profile Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election on the same day, where Sagal Abdi-Wali took the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after he stepped down. Andy Burnham became Prime Minister after Sir Keir resigned, following poor local election results for Labour earlier in the year.

Key Perspectives

Labour Party: The results are evidence of a 'Burnham bounce' and a dramatic turnaround in the party's fortunes in London since the spring. The by-elections were won on local issues and a message of hope. Green Party: Sonia Winifred's second-place finish in Lambeth shows the party remains competitive in urban wards and could challenge Labour in future contests. Reform UK: The party has now lost vote share in 10 of the 11 London council by-elections since May, indicating difficulty in breaking through in the capital.

What to Watch

  • Whether Labour can sustain improved polling in London in the coming months
  • Future by-election results in other parts of the country to see if the 'Burnham bounce' extends beyond London
  • Reform UK's strategy for winning seats in metropolitan areas

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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