Barnet Council now split evenly between Labour and Conservatives

Barnet Council is now evenly split between Labour and Conservative councillors, with one Green councillor holding the deciding vote. The result follows the May 2026 local elections, which left no single party in control for the first time in the borough’s history.

Charli Thompson, the Green councillor for Woodhouse ward, said the outcome reflected residents’ frustration with two-party politics. Writing in the Barnet Post on 31 July 2026, she argued that neither Labour nor the Conservatives had secured a mandate to govern alone.

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Thompson said Labour and the Conservatives had spent the election campaign attacking each other but quickly resumed cooperation after the vote. She described this as an attempt to maintain the status quo, despite what she called a clear public demand for change.

The Green councillor said she did not see her role as holding the balance of power. Instead, she said she would focus on policy outcomes and challenge systems that she believes are failing residents. Thompson, who is not bound by a party whip, said she would vote according to her values and those of her constituents.

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Heckling during social care deputation

Thompson revealed she was heckled and mocked during a 2024 deputation to the council on adult social care. She said councillors laughed and chatted while she and other campaigners raised concerns about the council’s approach to the issue.

The council leader at the time became defensive when questioned, Thompson said. She described the experience as disturbing and said it contributed to her decision to stand for election. Adult social care is the largest area of spending for Barnet Council.

“If this is how members of the public are treated when they come to engage with the council, no wonder so many people lose faith in local democracy.”

Charli Thompson, Green councillor for Woodhouse ward

Local elections see lower turnout

Thompson said local elections in Barnet typically attract fewer than one-third of eligible voters. General elections, by contrast, see turnout of around two-thirds. She called this a missed opportunity, arguing that local government has a greater impact on daily life than national politics.

The Green councillor said she wanted to represent residents who do not have a voice in the council chamber. She cited parents of children with special educational needs, disabled people, carers, and conservationists as groups whose expertise is often overlooked.

What happens next

Barnet Council has not yet announced how it will proceed with decision-making in the new political landscape. The next full council meeting is scheduled for 10 September 2026. Residents can submit deputations or petitions to the council through its website.

Thompson said she would continue to raise difficult questions and challenge proposals she considers harmful. She said her priority was to ensure community voices were heard, particularly on issues like adult social care and climate action.