As Barnet voters go to polls tomorrow, Julianna Nauman provides a recap on the voting process and what the parties are offering

A full front view image of Hendon Town Hall — Hendon Town Hall

The council election is back again after four years with polling stations open in Barnet and across much of the UK tomorrow. Now is the time to decide whose name to mark in the local vote with 311 nominees fighting for the 63 council seats up for grabs.

What’s this election for, and why does it matter?

The results of Thursday determine who the 63 councillors for the Barnet borough will be for the next four years. They’re tasked with making vital decisions on services, budgets and policies within the borough.

While parliamentary elections are flashier and widely covered, it’s local elections like these that can impact day-to-day lives. For the 2024 general election, 59.7% of eligible voters submitted a ballot, while local elections almost always see lower turnout rates.

The 2022 election in Barnet had its highest turnout in High Barnet with 46.3% of voters, and its lowest in Colindale North with only 25.1%.

Where do I vote?

The Electoral Commission allows you to search by your postcode to find your designated polling station.

Registered voters will also receive a poll card from the council before the election with the address of their polling station.

Remember to bring a valid ID and check the hours of your polling station.

Who can I vote for?

The Barnet council website has a list of all the councillor candidates in the 24 wards.

It states which party each nominee is in, and how many councillors will be elected for that ward.

What are each party’s goals?

While there are eight parties in the running, the five contesting enough seats to potentially win the council are Labour, Conservatives, Greens, Reform—each with 63 candidates—and Liberal Democrats with 45. There are also eight candidates for Rejoin EU, 5 independents, and 1 for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.

The focus for each party is essentially the same: budget management, protection of green spaces, clean and safe streets, housing and various infrastructure and social issues. However, their approach to these problems is what sets them apart.

Labour

Labour won the previous election in 2022, securing 41 of the 63 council seats. While Labour has lost popularity nationally and is expected to drop 15% according to a recent opinion poll. However, the poll still predicts a narrow win for Labour raising the prospect of Barry Rawlings continuing to lead the council.

In their 2026 manifesto titled ‘Ambitious for Barnet’, the party outlines 6 main pledges:

Cut roadworks by 20% to limit traffic congestion
Protect green spaces and plant 4,000 new trees
Upgrade CCTV systems to combat crime, fly-tipping and litter
Secure 1,000 social rent homes to provide additional affordable housing
Campaign to limit the increase of gambling arcades and fast-food shops
Minimise council tax increases

Read an interview with Barnet Labour leader Barry Rawlings.

Conservative

The Conservative Party won the remaining 22 seats in 2022 and looks like they’ll come second to Labour again with Peter Zinkin heading the party. Like Labour, the party has taken a hit since the last election and is projected to lose 11% of overall votes.

The party’s manifesto focuses on “ending Labour’s broken legacy and fixing Barnet again” with six priorities:

Target efficiency and prioritise cost-avoidance to improve essential services
Fix potholes and pavements, clean the streets and make green spaces great
Use tough enforcement alongside the police to combat crime and anti-social behaviour
Build beautiful and practical family homes
Introduce a transport strategy to make travelling through the borough simpler and safer
Establish clear communication with genuine consultations for residents

Read an interview with Conservative leader Peter Zinkin.

Green

The Greens didn’t make a big enough wave in 2022 to win any seats but the party gained its first councillor earlier this year when Linda Lusingu defected from Labour. With the loss of popularity for Labour and Conservative, Green is expected to earn 16% of overall votes.

The Green manifesto titled ‘Bringing Hope to Barnet’ makes 5 pledges:

Invest in public children and adult services, preventative health measures and community support providers
Lobby to set council tax policy locally, transition to a 100% tax break for lowest income workers and improve transparency within the council
Introduce lower speed-limits, protect green spaces, make Barnet more accessible and promote the support of local businesses
Ensure a minimum of 35% social housing in new developments and prioritise stable, long-term housing
Protect and expand community spaces and strengthen support for marginalised residents

Read an interview with Green candidate Charli Thompson.

Reform UK

Reform UK didn’t run in Barnet 4 years ago but polling suggests they might have a chance of coming third just above the Greens with 17% of votes. Former Barnet mayor Mark Shooter serves as chairman of Reform in Barnet now.

Their manifesto outlines “A New and Liberating Way of Running Barnet” with nine commitments:

Close the £750 million budget gap through a full contract audit
More visibility at the Town Hall with guaranteed response standards
Restore visible policing to combat crime
Fix roads and pavements with proactive repairs
Increase deep street cleanses to 3 times per year
Revive high streets with an additional 10 spaces per high street and stop excessive parking enforcement
Bring back free Bulk Waste Collections to eliminate fly tipping
Fix social care and tackle the mental health crisis
Deliver an accountable council focused on services

Read an interview with Reform UK’s Barnet chairman Mark Shooter.

Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems secured 9.7% of votes in 2022 and seem to have gained in popularity like Green and Reform as they are currently projected to get 12% of votes this time around.

The party hasn’t published an official 2026 manifesto, but their website outlines their priorities for the council:

Increase community policing to tackle crime and promote safer neighbourhoods.
Streamline ways to report anti-social behaviour to fight fly-tipping and litter.
Address issues with traffic management by consulting locals about parking and speed restrictions.
Campaign to reduce utility bills and petition the government to better support struggling families.

Read an interview with Lib Dem candidate Sarah Hoyle.

This is just an overview of the parties’ goals. For more information, research each party to find how they plan on implementing their pledges.

Other parties running in the election are Rejoin EU, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and five independent candidates.

The polling percentages quoted give an idea of what might happen but it’s currently very difficult to predict.

Use your vote to have your say on the final outcome.

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