A new Tory cabinet has been proposed for Westminster City Council following their win at the local elections on 7 May. The Conservatives now hold 32 of the 54 seats on the council.
Cllr Paul Swaddle, who was leader of the opposition prior to the recent elections, is now the leader-elect.
He and his proposed cabinet team will be sworn in once he is voted leader at Full Council on 20 May.
This includes the creation of the new role, cabinet member for enforcement, which will be filled by Cllr Caroline Sargent. She will also take up the joint post of deputy leader, alongside Cllr Tim Barnes. Barnes will also serve as the cabinet member for growth and planning.
Swaddle said: “It is the privilege of my life to be elected leader of Westminster City Council. This administration will be focused on listening to residents and delivering on the priorities they’ve told us about — safe streets, a clean city and action on issues like graffiti and dockless bikes.
“We want to be about practical action that residents can see straight away. Westminster is a fantastic city that millions pass through every year. But it is important those who contribute to its success — like teachers, police officers and health officers — get a chance to live in the city they serve. We will be working hard to make Westminster affordable for key workers.
“Local people want to see pledges turned into performance. So we will make Westminster accessible and transparent in the services it provides. This is an exciting new chapter for Westminster. I look forward to working with the help of our hugely talented team of officers to ensure this is a city people can grow up, work and prosper in.”
The Labour Group has also appointed a new leader of the opposition, after the party was ousted from power. Labour lost control of the council but still make up all of the remaining 22 seats. Cllr Adam Hug, who previously served as leader of the council, has not made it to the opposition cabinet.
Cllr Ellie Ormsby will instead become leader of the opposition.
Cllr Aicha Less will take up the joint post of deputy leader of the opposition, alongside Cllr Robert Eagleton.
Ormsby praised the legacy of former council leader Adam Hug.
“Last week’s result was disappointing for our group and for everyone who has believed in the changes we’ve been making to build a fairer Westminster,” she said.
“I want to pay tribute to Cllr Adam Hug, who has been a phenomenal leader of the Labour Group over the last decade and an outstanding leader of the council for the last four years. Under Adam’s leadership, we achieved a huge amount together in delivering a fairer Westminster for our residents.
“While we are proud of that record, our job now is to provide strong and effective opposition. We will be watching the new Conservative administration closely, and we will hold them to account every step of the way,” she said.
Criticising the new Conservative leadership team, Ormsby said:
“I am appalled that the new Conservative administration has chosen not to appoint a cabinet member for climate action. Cllr Swaddle’s decision to remove senior political leadership from this agenda is deeply concerning and shows the Conservatives are totally out of touch with the urgency of the climate crisis and the expectations of residents across Westminster.”
Full list of proposed cabinet members
- Council Leader – Paul Swaddle
- Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Enforcement – Caroline Sargent
- Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning – Tim Barnes
- Cabinet Member for Value for Money and Finance – Paul Fisher
- Cabinet Member for Adults and Health – Lorraine Dean
- Cabinet Member for Children and Education – Hannah Galley
- Cabinet Member for Resident Services and Civic Pride – Robert Rigby
- Cabinet Member for City Management – Tim Mitchell
- Cabinet Member for Innovation – Mark Shearer (Chief Whip)
- Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration – David Harvey
Full list of shadow cabinet members
- Councillor Ellie Ormsby – Leader of the Opposition
- Councillor Robert Eagleton – Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters
- Councillor Aicha Less – Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Children and Young People
- Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassiss – Opposition Whip and Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Communities
- Councillor Concia Albert – Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing Services
- Councillor David Boothroyd – Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Innovation
- Councillor Iman Less – Shadow Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecology
- Councillor Rhys Thomas – Shadow Cabinet Member for City Management and Streets
- Councillor Geoff Barraclough – Shadow Cabinet Member for Growth, Planning and Culture
- Councillor Liza Begum – Opposition Scrutiny Spokesperson
Westminster City Council – meeting of full council, 7pm Wednesday 20 May 2026.
Additional reporting by Linus Rees.
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