Peter Zinkin has replaced Dan Thomas as leader of the opposition Conservative group at Barnet Council, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

New Conservation group leader Peter Zinkin (left) and deputy leader Lucy Wakeley (right)

The Conservative group on Barnet Council has elected Peter Zinkin as its new leader and Lucy Wakeley as its deputy.

The news follows the resignations of former leader Dan Thomas and deputy David Longstaff.

Cllr Zinkin has been a councillor for a decade, first representing Childs Hill and subsequently Golders Green ward, and was voted in as leader at the opposition group’s annual general meeting last night (Thursday 16th).

Speaking on his election, he said: “Our previous leader stepped down because of work and family commitments. I have the advantage of being older and at a time in my job life where I can choose how I allocate my time.

“Therefore I have allocated more time to the council work and associated things, from my perspective I was backstopping a lot of what Cllr Thomas was unable to do with his time commitments.

“I led the monthly cross-questioning of the Labour group at the cabinet meetings, so when he announced he was going to step down, we spoke about that and he and a number of other people encouraged me to stand to be leader.”

In terms of the 2026 local election, Cllr Zinkin says the Conservative group stands a “very good” chance of reclaiming control of the council after losing in 2022.

“We performed well in the Greater London Assembly election in Barnet, I think we have every prospect of retaining the three parliamentary seats, [and] it’s ultimately thinking about the council.”

Cllr Zinkin has also been a Barnet representative for numerous organisations including as a transport and environment committee member for London Councils, as a governor for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, the London West member of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, and as vice-chair of North London Waste Authority.

Cllr Wakeley was elected as deputy of the group. She has served as an Edgware ward councillor since 2022, having been elected at the age of 21, making her the youngest councillor in Barnet history.

In a statement Cllr Wakeley said she was honoured to have been elected and thanked outgoing leader Cllr Thomas for his “brilliant leadership and support”.

She added: “I look forward to working closely with Cllr Zinkin as our new leader.”

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