Labour Holds on in Both Council By-elections
Reform takes second place in Hammersmith Broadway
The declaration of the result for Hammersmith Broadway. Picture: HF Labour
February 22, 2025
Labour has successfully retained two West London council seats in by-elections held this Thursday (20 February). Seats in Hammersmith Broadway and Lillie were up for grabs on Hammersmith and Fulham Council, following the resignations of two councillors last month, including the Labour MP for Chelsea and Fulham Ben Coleman.
A former borough Mayor, Emma Apthorp, also stepped down having been offered a job at the United Nations. Ms Apthorp’s former Hammersmith Broadway seat was won by Labour candidate Callum Nimmo. Mr Nimmo’s 578 votes was some way ahead of Reform’s Anthony Goodwin in second, with 148, and Tory candidate Nora Farah’s 144 in third with only 13 votes separating second from the Liberal Democtat in fourth.
In the 2022 borough-wide elections both Labour candidates received north of 1,000 votes. Turnout was however much higher, as is common when comparing full council elections with by-elections, at 31.4 per cent to yesterday’s 21.23 per cent. Reform did not stand a candidate in 2022, nor did the Greens.
Mr Nimmo told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), “I’m honoured voters have given me the chance to serve all the residents and businesses of Hammersmith Broadway. I know how tough things are for many people. I will work tirelessly to fight their corner and build a stronger, safer and kinder borough that betters the lives and improves the lift chances of the people I now represent.”
In Lillie, Labour’s Lydia Paynter won by just over 100 votes, beating the Conservatives’ Matt Sinclair by 466 to 352. The contest was far closer than in 2022, when Labour’s two candidates secured 903 and 848 votes to the Tories’ 368 and 329.
As with Hammersmith Broadway, the voter turnout at yesterday’s Lillie by-election was down on three years ago, at 24 per cent to 30.2 per cent. In both wards, Labour’s vote share was lower than in 2022.
Lydia Paynter (left) will represent Lillie ward and Callum Nimmo (right) will represent Hammersmith Broadway. Picture: HF Labour
Ms Paynter said: “I’m honoured that voters in Lillie have given me the chance to serve all the residents and businesses in the ward. Having campaigned in Lillie since 2022, I know how challenging things are for many people, so I look forward to working tirelessly to fight their corner and build a stronger, safer and kinder borough. As a Labour councillor, I hope that I can listen to and work with everyone I represent to better their lives and give them the best possible life chances in our very special corner of London.”
The full list of results are below.
Hammersmith Broadway
- Nora Farah, Conservative – 144
- Anthony Goodwin, Reform – 148
- Colin Murphy, Green – 77
- Callum Nimmo, Labour – 578
- Meerav Shah, Liberal Democrat – 135
Lillie
- Conor Campbell, Liberal Democrat – 212
- Peter Hunter, Reform – 123
- Lydia Paynter, Labour – 466
- Matt Sinclair, Conservative – 352
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter