The Labour Party has held a seat in a Haringey Council by-election following the death of one of their councillors.

New Hermitage and Gardens councillor Anna Lawton won more votes than the other four candidates combined with 822 votes or 59.7%, a -3.6% swing from the 2022 local elections result.

She replaces the late Cllr Julie Davies, described by council leader Cllr Peray Ahmet as a “compassionate person” and an “unstoppable force”.

The Liberal Democrats polled 217 (15.7%), the largest gain of +8.7%, taking them within one point of the Greens' 224 (16.3%) - the largest hit of -7.4%.

The Conservatives' 100 votes (7.3%) and the Christian People’s Alliance's 16 (1.2%) both translated to small gains of +1.1% and +1.2% respectively.

Previous councillor Julie Davies death after a short illness was announced in April.

This was the first Haringey local election since new legislation was introduced requiring voters to bring ID to the polling station.

Turnout in the by-election was 1,378 compared to 1,960 in the 2022 local elections. But it is normal for a by-election to yield a lower turnout, and it is as yet unknown if new Voter ID laws made a difference.

Cllr Ahmet said Cllr Lawton “smashed it”, while Tottenham MP David Lammy last night wished “good luck to the fantastic Anna Lawton”.

Cllr Lawton will join Deputy Leader Mike Hakata in representing the Hermitage and Gardens ward.

The full by-election results are as follows:

  • LAB: 59.7% (-3.6) (LABOUR HOLD)
  • GRN: 16.3% (-7.4)
  • LDEM: 15.7% (+8.7)
  • CON: 7.3% (+1.1)
  • CPA: 1.2% (+1.2)

Votes: 1,378