It was a somewhat disappointing end to what had been a strong showing for the Greens, as they narrowly missed out on gaining majority control – by just a single seat.
Labour lost 29 seats compared to their 2022 election results in what was another damaging set of results for the party, although it was almost worse.
When counting came to a close, the Greens finished on 28 seats, with the Labour Party on 21, and the Liberal Democrats on eight, meaning that Haringey ended up with nobody having overall control.
Throughout the day there was palpable anticipation amongst the Green candidates that they would finish with a majority.
But as the final ward of Fortis Green was announced, more than 12 hours after counting started, they were pipped by one Lib Dem and two Labour candidates, leaving the Greens one short of a majority.
Green Party ward councillor, Tehseen Khan, who won in Tottenham Hale Ward said he felt exhilarated.
He continued: “The conversations we’ve had with residents and neighbours here have been really enlightening about what life is like and how we can work to make it better.
“I think people are clearly sick of the Tories and Labour being the same kind of politics and people were hoping that Labour would change things for the better – but people don’t feel that their lives have changed.
“The politics of division is not actually the most powerful way of connecting with people.
“The Green Party has a positive message of hope, about bringing communities together, not about dividing and blaming minority groups for the problems people in the UK are experiencing.”
Green Party councillor Hannah Ward, who also won in Tottenham Hale, said residents they had spoken to were facing significant challenges.
She said: “The cost of living is having an effect. They’re not getting the services they need.
“Fly tipping and rubbish is a problem – really basic things which aren’t getting sorted out.
“So, we knew that people are in the mood for a change and there’s been a real momentum around the Green Party.”
The Liberal Democrats had mixed results but maintained a presence in Haringey.
Luke Cawley-Harrison of the Liberal Democrats, who won election in Crouch End ward, said: “I think the results overall will be a mixed bag.
“Obviously we’re seeing lots of momentum for the Greens across London, but the Lib Dems have retained a strong presence on the council so far and we’ll continue holding whoever is running the future council to account as we have done for the last two decades in Haringey.”
Earlier in the day deputy Prime Minister David Lammy came down to the count and appeared relaxed and smiling.
However, there will be mixed feelings within Labour about the results in Haringey – it could have been worse, but ultimately, they have lost control of a borough which was previously a stronghold.
It is another blow in an election of extremely damaging results for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party nationally.
With the results in Haringey meaning the council is a NOC, it will now be down to the Greens, as the party with the most elected councillors, to speak with their counterparts in Labour and the Lib Dems to work out if they can govern the council despite falling just short of a majority.
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Featured image taken Toby Hall
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