The 2026 council and mayoral elections are right around the corner and voters in Greenwich will soon be heading to the polls.
But who can you vote for, what’s at stake and what’s going on in the area?
Here is our guide to everything you need to know ahead of polling day on 7 May…#
Where is Greenwich?
Greenwich is an outer London borough which situated between Lewisham and Bexley.
Of its neighbouring boroughs, Lewisham is expected to be a 50-50 split between Labour and the Greens, and Bexley is predicted to go to Reform.
What happened in the last election?
Labour retained control of Greenwich Council in 2022, despite losing 20 seats on the back of strong gains from the Greens.
The results were as follows:
Labour: 27 (-20)
Conservatives: 6 (+2)
Green: 19 (+17)
Reform: 3 (+3)
Lib Dems: 0
What are the local issues?
Money and the cost of living crisis are big challenges for Greenwich, for the council as well as residents.
The borough has the second biggest per-head debt increase in the country, increasing by 57% in a year, a BBC investigation into council finances across the UK found.
Around 60% of that debt was to pay for new council housing through the Greenwich Builds programme.
Under Labour rule, Greenwich is the leading council in London for building affordable homes since 2022.
Other significant worries for the borough’s residents include crime, balancing caring responsibilities and being able to access local services.
Ones to watch
Labour dominated the 2022 local election winning over the majority of votes but this is set to change as the Greens make significant strides, with their projected share growing from 12.1% in 2022 to 29%.
Eltham is predicted to be the only ward in Greenwich which votes Reform, engulfed in a forest of Green.
The Greens are focusing on holding the council to account on home maintenance to keep homes safe, and at fair prices.
They have also promised more advice hubs and green spaces, and plans to protect homes from climate related weather emergencies.
Labour are promising an additional 6,000 new social and low rent homes over the next decade as well as building a new SEND school and giving a £150 voucher to under 16s to help them buy a bike, scooter and safety equipment.
They also plan to tackle fly-tipping and want to expand the anti-social behaviour enforcement team.
Interesting facts about Greenwich
Greenwich has a population of 299,528.
A ferry has operated in the borough since 1308.
Feature image: Christine Matthews via Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
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