A West London Labour group appears to be teetering on the brink of implosion just two years ahead of the 2026 local elections, hampered by an alarming inability to recruit enough female candidates to meet its rigid gender quotas. An internal email revealed that the selection process has been put on hold due to a glaring shortage of women on the longlist, exposing the party’s ongoing struggles to uphold diversity and fairness from within. This turmoil comes amidst a summer marked by discontent, with multiple deselections and resignations—including three female councillors—highlighting the deep crises roiling the local Labour scene.

The chaos within the Hillingdon Labour group is a clear illustration of a party in disarray. Veteran councillor and former leader Peter Curling, after nearly a quarter-century representing Labour, was unexpectedly deselected and chose to resign in protest. He lambasted the party for “political skulduggery,” criticising its handling of his personal circumstances—such as caring for his elderly mother—as evidence of its authoritarian and toxic environment. Now leading the Hayes Independent Group, Curling pointedly called out Labour’s internal culture as “authoritarian and toxic,” warning that membership has plummeted and few are willing to stand for office under its banner. His stark assessment raises serious questions about Labour’s commitment to regaining control of Hillingdon Council—an ambition requiring a minimum of 27 seats—especially when its candidate pool appears to be shrinking.

The purge of experienced councillors has gathered pace, exacerbating internal fractures. Notably, Rita Judge, representing Yeading, was deselected before defecting to Curling’s new group, while Scott Farley from West Drayton resigned citing concern over factional infighting and contentious issues like Heathrow’s proposed third runway. These departures and deselections reveal an internal party beset by factional disputes and mismanagement—signs of a party losing its grip on strategic cohesion and public confidence.

Despite the turmoil, the party’s deputy leader in Hillingdon is clinging to optimism, claiming a steadfast commitment to winning next year’s elections and promising to deliver a safer, cleaner, and fairer borough. She insists that diversity and gender parity are more than just token gestures—they are fundamental to authentic representation. While the party is open to reconsidering candidate selections to meet its standards, recent events cast doubt on whether it can effectively rebuild its fractured ranks before the critical polls.

This pattern of internal chaos isn’t isolated. Across London, Labour groups are experiencing their own crises—high-profile deselections and resignations driven by factional disputes and political discord. In Brent, the imposition of a Campaign Improvement Board by Labour’s national leadership led to the deselection of eight sitting councillors, many of whom supported calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, raising alarms about how internal party politics are overshadowing democratic processes. Meanwhile, senior figures in Lambeth have resigned or been barred from standing again, reflecting widespread instability within Labour’s local machinery.

These internecine battles threaten Labour’s electoral prospects—particularly as they struggle to produce cohesive, credible candidates while managing the fallout from internal purges. The party’s emphasis on rigid diversity policies may be a noble goal, but it appears to come at the cost of unity and effective campaigning. As former members like Curling have warned, Labour’s obsession with internal discipline and political conformity runs the risk of alienating the very communities it needs to win over. Without addressing these internal fractures, Labour’s attempt to wrest control from the Conservatives in places like Hillingdon could be fundamentally compromised.

In this climate of disarray, it’s increasingly clear that Labour’s betting on victory is overly optimistic. The internal upheavals, defections, and inability to field a united front threaten to undercut a credible challenge to Conservative dominance. If Labour’s leadership doesn’t urgently stem the internal hemorrhaging and refocus on building a genuinely inclusive and effective team, the party risks further electoral decline at a time when many are already questioning its competence and priorities. The upcoming local elections are shaping up to be a stern test—one that Labour’s internal chaos may very well prevent them from winning.

Source: Noah Wire Services