Wes Streeting’s London borough of Redbridge saw a turnout so high that legal action was necessary to ensure everyone could vote. We’ve heard reports, however, that some people just went home due to the size of the queues.

Redbridge Independents sought assurance that everyone in queues could vote

Streeting’s Labour Party has been knee-deep in scandal, mismanagement, and racist campaigning, so it has been haemorrhaging votes. And across the borough, both Redbridge Independents and the Greens have been challenging Labour from the left. Turnout in some wards was above 50% – very high for a local election.

A spokesperson for Redbridge Independents told the Canary that the turnout level was “extraordinary”, saying:

Thousands of residents turned out to make their voices heard, with long queues seen at polling stations late into the evening.

They added that:

Following legal representations made on behalf of voters, confirmation was secured that all electors who joined the queue before the close of poll were entitled to cast their vote, ensuring that every lawful vote could be counted.

We have seen the legal intervention, which raised concerns with Redbridge’s returning officer that:

administration of the poll at polling stations is taking significantly longer than usual, to the extent that electors have voiced fears of voter suppression.

It also noted that:

With this in mind, we draw your attention to the obligation to ensure that any voter that has joined a queue at a polling station by 10:00 pm is afforded the opportunity to cast their ballot, however long this takes.

The spokesperson for the independents asserted that their team would:

remain present throughout the counting process to ensure the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the count at every stage.

Redbridge Independents have already beaten Labour locally, and expect to gain more representation in the 2026 local election.

Featured image via the Canary

By Ed Sykes

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