With the local elections fast approaching, Hammersmith and Fulham residents are deciding who will earn their vote on 7 May.
But who is up for election and what are the key issues on voters’ minds?
Where is Hammersmith and Fulham?
Hammersmith and Fulham is in West London, running along the north bank of the River Thames.
It borders Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, Richmond Upon Thames, Hounslow, Ealing, and Brent.
What happened in the last election?
Ward boundary changes meant four additional seats were available in the 2022 election compared to previous years.
However, this had little impact on the overall balance of power, as Labour retained a comfortable majority and the Conservatives were once again the only other party to secure seats.
Labour: 40 (+5)
Conservative: 10 (-1)
Note – The number of seats increased from 46 to 50 due to boundary changes.
Since 2022, the make-up of the council has changed slightly.
Cllr David Morton (Avonmore) quit Labour to become independent in July 2023, shortly after the party suspended him for posting alleged “anti-Semitic and racist” content online.
He will be running as an independent candidate in the upcoming election.
Two further Labour councillors – Cllr Trey Campbell-Simon (Walham Green) and Cllr Liz Collins (Ravenscourt) – defected to the Greens in July 2025, over worries of a rightward shift in the party and concerns of a toxic culture among the borough’s Labour contingent.
Neither Campbell-Simon nor Collins will be standing at this year’s election, with both citing ill health as the reason for their resignation.
A seat in Hammersmith Broadway ward has been vacant since November, when former Hammersmith and Fulham Mayor, Cllr Patricia Quigley, stepped down after over seven years as a councillor.
Pre-election council make-up
What are the local issues?
Tax and traffic will be top of Hammersmith and Fulham voters’ minds on 7 May.
This April, council tax was raised by the maximum 4.99% – up to £1,519 for the average Band D property.
Even with this increase, the borough has the third-lowest council tax in the city.
Yet residents may need to brace themselves for further tax hikes in the future.
Hammersmith and Fulham was one of six boroughs where Labour lifted the cap on council tax rises, following a reduction in its share of government funding.
As a result, the council will be allowed to raise rates by more than 5% over the next two years – without sign off from local voters.
The reduction in central funding is a blow to local projects, including the ongoing repair of Hammersmith Bridge.
Renovation work to the Grade II* Listed bridge has been underway since 2019.
Although it has re-opened for cyclists and pedestrians, the bridge remains closed for cars.
Frustration is mounting among local residents and Fleur Anderson, Labour MP for Putney, described the situation as a “national disgrace”.
The total cost to fully restore the bridge is an estimated £250million, which is split between the council, the Department for Transport, and Transport for London.
Elsewhere, the council has continued efforts to reduce air pollution through a trial Clean Air Neighbourhood scheme in South Fulham.
Who are the ones to watch?
Historically, Hammersmith and Fulham has been a marginal Labour-Conservative borough.
However, Labour has controlled the council since 2014 and won comfortable majorities at the previous two elections.
Polling indicates much of the same can be expected this time around.
In spite of the defections to the Greens and growing support for the party elsewhere in the capital, Labour looks likely to retain power.
A full list of candidates can be found on the Hammersmith and Fulham website.
Interesting Facts
Population size: 188,700
Demographics: In the 2021 census, 63.2% of the population identified as white, 12.3% as black, 10.5% as Asian and 6.7% as mixed. 7.3% identified with other ethnic groups.
House prices: According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average house price in the borough was £730,000 in December 2025, and the average monthly rent in January 2026 was £2,701.
Unemployment: According ONS data from 2024, the unemployment rate in Hammersmith and Fulham is around 4.8% – above the national average of 3.4%.
Places of interest: Three Premier League and EFL clubs are based in Hammersmith and Fulham – Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers – more than any other London borough.
The borough is also home to the Queens Club Championship tennis, the Hammersmith Apollo, Westfield London and Wormwood Scrubs.
Featured image: Hammersmith Bridge by Wayland Smith
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