Labour selects West End ward candidates for 2026 election

The Labour Party in the City of Westminster has selected Sarah Littleton and Tim Lord as candidates who along with existing councillor Patrick Lilley will fight for the West End ward in next year’s council elections.

All three candidates are also on a collision course with Labour’s mayor Sadiq Khan, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and neighbouring Labour-run Camden Council over the plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street and create a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).

Littleton lives in the West End and describes herself as a community activist and has worked as an organiser with Rachel Blake MP, says Westminster Labour Party. She is a former student at the London School of Economics and wants to improve the safety of women and girls in the West End she says.

Lord is a well-known local resident who has lived in Soho for over 34 years and has been chair of the Soho Society for a number of years. “He has worked on issues including safety, regulation of pedicabs, controls on short lets, noise nuisance and better public toilet provision in Soho,” says Westminster Labour.

Councillor Lilley has represented Fitzrovia, Mayfair and Soho on Westminster Council since 2022.

“As Westminster’s Disability Champion, he fights for accessibility and ensures residents’ voices are heard on planning, licensing, and Oxford Street. He entered politics to oppose Conservative cuts and is proud Labour is now investing in free school meals and safer streets,” says Westminster Labour.

Labour took all three seats in the West End ward in 2022 but lost one of those seats to Conservative Tim Barnes in a 2024 by-election, and in April this year Paul Fisher announced he was leaving Labour for the Conservatives.

Labour’s West End ward team say they “firmly oppose” the creation of an MDC for Oxford Street saying it is “unnecessary and disruptive”.

While their stance puts them at odds with the Labour mayor of London and the party’s national leadership, it is in accord with Labour-led Westminster Council and with local residents who fear the displacement of buses and taxis and other motor traffic from the Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans.

“Westminster’s own plan would have delivered major public realm improvements while protecting vital public transport links along Oxford Street,” say the Labour West End team.

“We are demanding — and confident — that the bus services between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road will be retained, reducing possible traffic displacement to Soho and Fitzrovia. We don’t believe there is any practical way of removing buses from eastern Oxford Street,” they say.

Labour holds a slim majority with 28 seats on Westminster Council while the Conservatives have 26.

Council elections will be held in May 2026.

Please support The Fitzrovia News. Consider helping us cover our costs by visiting our secure payment page.