Election 2024: London's winners and losers

Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister [PA]
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The votes are in, verified and counted - and now the dust begins to settle after the battle of the 2024 general election.

And that dust is overwhelmingly red.

There are now no Conservative MPs in Inner London - and Labour has chipped away at outer London too.

So who are some of the capital's stand-out winners and losers?

Map of electorate
For the first time there are no Tory MPs in Inner London [BBC]

Seat breakdown:

Total number of seats: 75

  • Labour: 59 seats

  • Conservatives: 9 seats

  • Lib Dems: 6 seats

  • Independent: 1 seat

Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn retains the seat he has held for 40 years [BBC]

Winner: Jeremy Corbyn (and Diane Abbott)

In Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn became the capital's only independent MP, in the constituency he had previously represented for Labour.

The race wasn't even close - the former Labour leader won by 7,247 votes.

And Diane Abbott, a long-time friend and close ally of Mr Corbyn retained her seat in Hackney North and Stoke Newington, despite recent controversies.

Jeremy the puppy on someone's lap
And this sleepy pup is called Jeremy - named after the victorious Mr Corbyn [BBC]

Winner: Umbrellas

After his infamous rain-soaked announcement of calling a general election, ousted prime minister Rishi Sunak was surrounded by umbrellas as he gave his resignation speech.

His wife Akshata Murty stood guard with a classic navy brolly, while a Downing Street aide lurked with a black one, and the phalanx of press huddled under their own.

(For those wanting to add a political slant to their wet weather kit, both the Labour and the Conservative parties sell umbrellas on their respective websites).

Akshata Murty
Akshata Murty is at the ready to shelter her husband should the heavens open [PA]
Downing Street press
Reporters favour white umbrellas as the light is more flattering on the face [AP]

Winner: Liberal Democrats in Carshalton and Wallington, Sutton and Cheam, Wimbledon

The Lib Dems secured six seats, all in the south-west of London.

That's double their haul of 2019, with three new seats - Carshalton and Wallington, Sutton and Cheam, and Wimbledon - snatched from the Conservatives.

Floor with yellow confetti
A confetti cannon made an appearance in south-west London [BBC]

Winner: Yellow confetti cannons

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey held the seat of Kingston and Surbiton in London after securing 25,870 votes, following a stunt-packed campaign.

In his acceptance speech, Sir Ed said: “It has been a great privilege to serve Kingston and Surbiton and this great community over many years and I’m humbled that you’ve given me the chance to serve you again, so let me start by saying a big thank you.”

It wouldn't be an Ed Davey event without a bit of flamboyance - sadly he wasn't fired from a canon, but there was a confetti cannon to cover him (and the carpet) in yellow.

Greg Hands
Greg Hands lost his seat by a mere 152 votes [PA]

Loser: Greg Hands

The minister for London lost his west London seat by a fine margin.

Labour's Ben Coleman pipped Greg Hands to the post by just 152 votes.

That, however, seems a sturdy majority when compared to Hendon - after four recounts, Labour's David Pinto-Duschinsky squeezed into the seat by a mere 15 votes.

Winner: Labour in the Cities of London and Westminster

The constituency turned red for the first time in its history.

Labour’s Rachel Blake won the seat by a majority of 2,708 votes, marking the first time the Conservatives have lost there in a general election since it was created in 1950.

In her victory speech as MP, Ms Blake said the result showed it was "time to move on".

She said: “Yesterday, people across the country had their say and we should never, ever take this for granted.

"A decision has been made and now it is time to move forward."

Counters
Workers at the Hampstead and Highgate count [Reuters]

Loser: Labour at Chingford and Woodford Green

Independent candidate Faiza Shaheen blamed Labour for letting former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith win in Chingford and Woodford Green, saying the vote was split between her and her Labour challenger.

Ms Shaheen was dropped by Labour as its candidate for the constituency after liking a series of posts on social media platform X that allegedly downplayed antisemitism allegations.

She wrote on X: “Our vote was a combination of those appalled by how I was treated, those who took issue with having an imposed candidate who didn’t know us, those who were never going to vote Labour after Starmer’s stance on Gaza, and those that have never voted before.

“Labour split the vote the moment they deselected me.”

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Related internet links