In Hackney, east London, some voters are switching from Labour to the Green Party as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces pressure in the capital ahead of local council elections on 2026-05-07. [1]
The drift is being seen among urban progressives and could hurt Labour in London, where the party has been trying to hold support while Reform U.K. gains ground nationally. Labour has responded by taking tougher positions on immigration, a shift critics say is pulling the party rightward. [1]
Nadeshda Jayakody, 34, said she now backs the Greens because, in her view, their platform fits her values better. "I just think the Greens align better with what I stand for," she said. She added that "Labour is pandering towards the right, towards Reform, rather than trying to lead from the center or the left." [1]
The London council vote on May 7 will test whether that unease among progressive voters translates into lost support for Labour in the capital. [1]