Learning Lessons: Pushing Back

This is the seventh part of our ‘Learning Lessons’ series, which provides a space for candidates across England, Scotland and Wales to share what they heard on the doorstep and where they believe Labour should go next.

In the 2026 local elections, Kensington and Chelsea was a bright spot for Labour in a traditionally Conservative stronghold. The nation’s richest borough is also one of its most unequal. Residents in North Kensington can expect to live for 17 to 18 fewer years than those in wealthier wards. Fifty-eight per cent of North Kensington households are in social housing, compared with 17 per cent in the rest of the borough. We campaigned on delivering a fairer Kensington, with an intensive tech-enabled volunteer operation grounded in local issues. Armed with this approach, Labour won 13 seats in our five target wards, gaining six from independents, Greens, and Conservatives.

The key to our success was the depth and breadth of voter conversations. We knocked on every door and spoke to over half of all households six months prior to the election – often on multiple occasions. The community in Kensington is diverse, but residents shared a common interest in pride of place, safety, community, and economic prosperity.

Residents love their parks but are frustrated by fly-tipping, litter, and dog fouling, despite the Conservative-run council’s pride in waste management services. Air quality and road noise were also concerns, particularly by major highways and through-roads. Housing quality was a major issue for those in social housing, with frequent requests for overdue repairs and upgrades. On safety, people wanted less speeding and more e-bike regulation for pavements. Residents also cared about improved policing and wanted a stronger offer for after-school clubs.

Community was top of mind, from supporting local businesses to voluntary sector and cultural organisations. On the economy, residents were particularly interested in how to lower the cost of living. Transport investments, shop front renovations, and parking also came up as ways that the local government could help.

We incorporated resident feedback into local policy ideas, using our candidates’ professional expertise. My background in energy and infrastructure helped to develop specific proposals for reducing bills, including unlocking more rooftop solar investment and expanding low-cost street EV chargers. We are advocating for key transport investments to improve access to economic opportunity, like restoring a bus route, upgrading a tube station, and completing a pedestrian underpass. Similarly, candidates with backgrounds in other areas like health and housing were helpful for developing a holistic manifesto.

We also showed up before we were elected. Our council candidates collected casework so we could assist residents alongside our local MP, Joe Powell. We organised clean-up days to raise awareness about the litter problem. We contacted specific streets to build traction for speeding reduction and building repairs. Moreover, we hosted coffee mornings and attended a range of events, including lunch with Age UK, the Bowls Club fair, the Kensington and Chelsea Food Bank Christmas lunch, the Playground Theatre’s Women in Leadership evening, and our ward’s new pub launch.

Another essential success factor was the use of technology for volunteer mobilisation. Our members were eager to help us speak to residents about local issues and casework. Our over 70 per cent contact rate was achievable by using Labour One to record data, design road routes, and assign volunteers to doors. To further uptake, we trained canvassers to use the latest technology, so that they could be effective on future sessions.

On polling day, we registered more volunteers in our four-person campaign centre than entire London boroughs, including friends and family of candidates who were not Labour members. This, combined with our understanding of the electorate and technology-guided canvassing, enabled us to knock on every target door three times on polling day to get out the vote. This resulted in the ward’s highest turnout ever of 44 per cent, seven percentage points higher than the borough average, and one of the highest turnouts outside of a national election year in Kensington’s history. Winning by just 26 votes, the closest race in Kensington and Chelsea, was only possible through extensive tech-enabled voter conversations before and on election day.

What can Labour learn from our experience in Kensington? Frequently talking to voters and being in the community helps us understand what really matters locally. Mobilising volunteers using technology for maximum impact improves reach and turn-out. Our candidates cut through the social media soundbites of other parties by being present on the doorstep, with specific policies to deliver change. Labour can certainly restore faith in government, by earning voters’ trust and proving that we can deliver once elected.

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