Bromley Council Election 2024: Conservatives Fight to Hold Ground Against Labour, Reform and ULEZ Backlash

After years of watching their control fade in Bromley, the Conservatives will be fighting a battle on several fronts with Labour and Reform both chomping at the bit.

The Conservatives have held onto the borough since its creation in 1965, except for a brief Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition between 1998 and 2002. However, recent years have seen their grip weaken. In the 2022 council election, Labour gained an extra six percent of the vote share, while the Conservatives lost 14 seats. Despite this, the Tories retained overall control with 36 seats, as Labour rose to 12 seats and the Liberal Democrats secured five.

Since the 2022 election, the insurgent Reform party has gained ground through two defections from the Conservatives and a by-election win. Like neighbouring Bexley, Bromley poses a top target for Nigel Farage’s party. Farage has stirred controversy in the borough by raising the idea of a referendum on Bromley leaving London, stating during a visit that “sitting in here now with all these blokes in the pub, does this feel like London? Not to me it doesn’t.” He called for “serious reconsiderations” of what he described as a “massive land grab” that occurred in 1965.

The statement prompted Beckenham and Penge Labour MP Liam Conlon to launch a campaign opposing such a move, which he said would be a “disaster” for residents. Farage did not confirm whether Laila Cunnginham, Reform’s London mayoral hopeful, would allow boroughs to leave the capital if elected.

Sadiq Khan policies cause friction in Bromley

Some local frustrations driving Farage’s suggestion stem from policies by Mayor Sadiq Khan that have divided outer London, particularly the ULEZ ultra low emission zone, which affects outer borough residents who are more likely to drive frequently. Bromley contains both urban and rural areas, including part of the suburban London built-up area and the northern part of the North Downs, a ridge of chalk hills stretching to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent.

The independent group Chislehurst Matters aims to hold onto all three Chislehurst seats in the upcoming elections, pledging to protect and enhance local green spaces and heritage. This adds a Nimby (Not in my back yard) dimension to the vote, similar to dynamics seen in inner-city boroughs. Voters may also challenge the incumbent Conservatives on their handling of public finances, as the average Band D property council tax in Bromley will increase by £98 this year—a rise of 4.8 percent. Councillors have described the Labour government’s funding cuts as “vicious.”

A Conservative win in Bromley would send a strong message to Westminster strategists that voters have not yet turned away from the party. It could also signal that campaigns focused on attacking figures such as Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Sadiq Khan, and Nigel Farage may prove effective.

City AM is previewing local election votes taking place in every London borough. Click here for a full overview of May 7.