Labour has lost another central London by-election to the Tories amid the row over Sadiq Khan’s plans for Westminster and concerns about traffic changes.
Publican and Craft Beer Co founder Martin Hayes, who is described as a “pro-nightlife, pro-hospitality, pro-pub voice”, won the Vincent Square ward seat on Westminster Council for the Conservatives.
The by-election was called following the death of Labour councillor, Gillian Arrindell, in November.
Labour saw its vote share drop almost 11 points, forcing the party into second place. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK came third in Thursday’s poll with 9.6% of the vote, ahead of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Christian People’s Alliance.
Turnout was 29.07%.
The Tories ran a campaign against the ongoing traffic changes that will make Warwick Way in Pimlico a one-way street for vehicles, arguing it makes access “difficult for businesses and for local people”. The ward includes Vincent Square, which is London’s largest private square.
It also comes as Sadiq Khan launched a public consultation over his wish to seize control of Oxford Street from Westminster council.
The Mayor of London wants to set up a “mayoral development corporation” to drive through changes in the world-famous shopping street, including part pedestrianising the road.
But residents across Westminster have raised fears about the impact the changes could have on surrounding areas and over City Hall expanding its powers further to cover even more of the borough.
Labour-run Westminster council has also expressed alarm, with leader Adam Hug writing to the Mayor and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner raising concerns about traffic being displaced into narrow, nearby roads, air pollution and ensuring local residents views are heard.
In September, the Conservatives seized a West End ward seat from Labour, and saw their vote jump nearly 9%, in a by-election just days after Mr Khan unveiled his Oxford Street plans.
Elsewhere in the country Reform UK won another councillor in Norfolk in votes on Thursday. The party seized the Bedingfield ward seat on Breckland council from the Tories.
The Conservatives retained a councillor in a vote for the Rushmere St Andrews ward on East Suffolk council, while the Liberal Democrats held a seat on Westmorland and Furness council in Cumbria.
Mr Farage insisted his party could win the next general election and "make history" as he unveiled a hero of the 2012 London Olympics as one of the party's candidates in the upcoming mayoral elections.
He welcomed former professional boxer and 2012 gold medallist Luke Campbell to the stage in front of 2,000 supporters at Hull's Connexin Live Arena on Thursday night.
Mr Campbell will be Reform UK's candidate in the first-ever election for a metro mayor in the Hull and East Riding region on May 1.
Mr Farage made no mention of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Washington during his 20-minute speech, but he told the audience: "We are the most optimistic political party in Britain.
"We believe we can make history. We believe we can prove everybody wrong. We believe we can win the next general election."
Mr Campbell, who was cheered by Reform UK supporters as he climbed out of a boxing ring on the stage, later said: "I tried to get across in my message on the stage tonight that I'm not a politician and I'm not going to stand here pretending that I am.
"My reason for why I am doing it is for the people."
