Brentford By-election Results 'Impossible to Predict'

New councillors to be selected on Thursday in two wards

Candidates for Brentford East (clockwise from top left) Christine Cunniffe (Conservative), David Kerr (Reform), Rashid Wahab (Green), Bernice Roust (Lib Dem) and Max Mosley (Labour)

February 28, 2025

Voters in two Brentford wards will be going to the polls on Thursday (6 March) to choose two new councillors to sit on Hounslow Council.

Opinion is divided on the likely outcome in both of the seats which would normally be counted as relatively safe for Labour.

The consensus appears to be that the party of the ruling administration will face its toughest challenge in Syon and Brentford Lock with former Labour councillor, Theo Dennison once again seeking to be elected as an independent.

However, some observers now believe that the Brentford East seat, which was won by a significant majority last time out, could be in play.

The vote in Brentford East was caused by Rhys Williams deciding to stand down for personal reasons. He gained over a thousand votes with two thirds of those voting picking him for one of the two seats in the ward in the council elections in May 2022. The Conservatives and the Greens ran each other close for second place but this time around the Liberal Democrats and Reform are fielding candidates.

Brentford East Ward Result - May 2022

In Syon and Brentford Lock ward, the vacancy was created by the failure of Labour’s Balraj Sarai to attend council meetings. At the May 2022 council election, he was the third placed candidate in a three seat ward and polled significantly fewer votes than Dan Bowring and Katherine Dunne. Theo Dennison was less that 300 votes behind him in fourth place with the Greens in fifth but the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats also taking a reasonable share of the vote.

Candidates for Syon and Brentford Lock (clockwise from top left) Theo Dennison (Independent), Michael Denniss (Conservative), Jennifer Prain (Labour), Freya Summerskill (Green). Photos of the Liberal Democrat and Reform candidates were not provided

Syon and Brentford Lock Ward Result - May 2022

A member of a local apolitical community group who has been observing politics in the borough for decades told us, “I believe both these results are impossible to predict. This has been a time of profound change, both in terms of local demography and political alignments. Politicians hate to admit it, but they have very little contact with the vast majority of their constituents and have no idea what they are thinking.

"For all the sound and fury on social media about the contests, a large proportion of voters have little to know interest or knowledge about the issues being discussed and select their candidate based on national factors. Looking at the most recent polls, this would suggest Reform will do better than expected, but not well enough to take either of the seats and Labour should be nervous but might be saved by a split of vote share between other contenders. Perhaps, Keir Starmer’s performance at the White House will provide a timely boost. The chances are both results will be determined by a score of people in each ward who haven’t yet made their mind up.”

Registered electors in the Brentford East ward who are British, Irish, qualifying European Union or qualifying Commonwealth citizens and are 18 years old or older can vote on Thursday 6 March 2025. To check if you are eligible to register to vote, click here.

On polling day, the polls are open between 7am to 10pm. The result is expected to be declared on Friday morning.