Bromley election: Tories suffer unexpected losses but retain control of council

By Kiro Evans, Local Democracy Reporter

Bromley council will remain in Conservative control, despite the party suffering some unexpected losses.

Results in the Tory stronghold saw the Conservatives left with 14 fewer councillors than in 2018, slicing their majority from 21 to six – the impact of boundary changes having played a part.

Fifty-eight councillors were elected across 22 wards to represent Bromley until May 2026.

The election was contested by six different parties and a number of independent candidates.

Labour remain the official opposition after winning 12 seats, up from eight in 2018.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats are back on Bromley council after taking three seats off the Tories in Bromley Town, while independent party Chislehurst Matters pulled off a stunning victory to win all three seats in Chislehurst.

Bromley Conservative leader Colin Smith admitted it had not been an ideal set of results after winning in his ward of Bickley.

He said: “Today’s result in Bickley is tinged with an element of regret, it must be said.

“We’ve lost some outstanding councillors around parts of the ward.

“Nothing can be done about that now. We move forward with our big programme over the next four years and it starts today.”

Meanwhile, Labour candidate Jeremy Adams, who was victorious in the Clock House ward, said: “We are really excited that Labour across Bromley has increased its number of Bromley councillors by 50 per cent. We won extra councillors in St Paul’s Cray and Plaistow.”

Pictured top: Bromley civic centre