Both Labour and the Conservatives had 31 seats after today’s count with the borough’s first elected Green councillor holding the power reports David Floyd

A row of people standing behind a lectern with an aircraft in the background — The declaration for Woodhouse ward, which saw Charli Thompson (third from right) elected for the Greens

Despite a long day of counting, the results of Barnet Council’s election have so far proved inconclusive.

Today’s count at the RAF Museum in Colindale ended with Labour and the Conservatives tied on 31 seats and the Green Party’s first ever elected councillor in the borough holding the balance of power.

The result represents a big recovery for the Conservatives who won 22 seats to Labour’s 41 at the last election in 2022, however Labour sources in Barnet are also relatively positive about the party’s result given the huge losses it has sustained nationally.

While the Greens did not enjoy the same kind of surge in Barnet as they have in some neighbouring boroughs, the combination of winning a first elected and bizarrely ending up with a decisive role in who leads the next administration makes it a good day for the party.

It is too soon to say how they will choose to exercise that role but Barnet Post understands it is not likely this will involve a formal coalition.

The decision on who will lead the council, at least for the next year, will be taken at the upcoming council meeting on 19th May.

Barnet Post will publish a full report, including interviews with all three parties, over the weekend.

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