Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
The south-central wards swung it for the Greens, but why did people vote as they did?
Above is Haringey's own election 2026 results map with info added from yours truly on the 'hung' wards.
I know in the broad sweep of things why the vote went the way it did nationally, but why did people in Harringay and more widely in Haringey vote the way they did?
Yesterday's results matter. The day may come to be seen as a watershed day for the nation. So, I ask in a genuine sense of enquiry and I'd be particularly interested to hear first hand how people made their choices this year.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by D Jones
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I switched from Lab to Green...
- because of the terrible cycling provision in the Borough, and the lack of action of this front for years
- because Labour failed to fix the LTN camera in Whittington road for THREE years (and still remains broken)
- because Labour failed to fix the huge cracks in the path in Woodside Path for TWO years (cracks still remain)
- because Labour failed to address the Graffiti in Nightingale Gardens for TWO years (graffiti still there)
- because Labour failed to do anything about the man living in a tent in White Hart Lane recreation ground for OVER A YEAR (he moved on, the council refused to remove him)
- because whenever I raised these issues and other issues with the council I either get ignored, fobbed off with lame excuses, or I'm forced to raise an official complaint...and then get fobbed off all over again.
- because Labour have ruined Finsbury Park by hiring it out for events all summer
enough for you?
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Mostly local, yes.
Although I'm not a fan of what Labour have failed to do in the last TWO years either. They have squandered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be bold and change the UK for the better. Now we will have Farage as PM in 2029.
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Permalink Reply by Alice Mezzo
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I voted Green because Labour have completely failed to address the issues traffic, air pollution and cycle Lanes in Harringay. Other, neighbouring areas are light-years ahead. I am also inspired by the new leadership of the Green Party on a national scale and on National issues. It feels refreshing that Labour finally have some credible opposition here. I don't think it's healthy for any one party to 'expect' to remain in power because it breeds complacency.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh
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Thanks, Alice. I agree that the ‘natural’ monopoly on power locally has not been healthy.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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Hugh, I much agree about the unhealthiness of a one-Party Borough.
For the same Party to be in control, council-after-council, leads to exhaustion. Plus:
- Aging
- Inertia
- Opacity
- Isolation
- Staleness
- Arrogance
- Cover-ups
- Inwardness
- Entitlement
- Detachment
- Complacency
- Easy satisfaction
- Unresponsiveness
- Cosiness with staff
- Control by employees
This list is not exhaustive but I expect that Haringey residents would recognise at least some of these collective features. Local Labour became exhausted. In the end, we are bequeathed the former leader's pet project, the costly London Borough of Culture 2027.
#FreshStartFriday
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Near the playground in Finsbury Park during a massive Live Nation event to the south: the former Cabinet Member for Parks & Culture (re-elected Bounds Green Ward Councillor Arkell, left) listens to a member of the council Events Team. Picture credit: council PR Department.
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My top 3 too but I wanted Zena and Anna (and Olly) to carry on as local councillors so didn't vote Green.
None of this matters to me now. I am moving out of Harringay in a week. Anti-social behaviour in our street is too much, constant beeping and backfiring, open drugs use in our street etc is too much. I need a break. I can't sit in my living from of an evening for all the noise.
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Choices initially made in this house as protest votes on the Kanye West/Wireless headliner and councillors were emailed accordingly.
Much reinforced by the subsequent precipitate five-year contract signoff tieing a future council's hands.
Personal votes were given for a known-to-be hard working councillor, but as was evident the ultimate vote numbers weren't even close.
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Well, the Green councillor in Seven Sisters came to my door, which was the first time any of them had bothered to I think in over 20 years of living in Tottenham, as it's obviously been such a Labour stronghold. Had a long chat with the Green candidate, and I agreed to give both of my votes to them, having previously been thinking of giving one to Labour, who've normally been my main squeeze. On a national level, I don't personally understand the visceral hatred for Keir Starmer. Looking at the local scene, a party being in power for so long invariably breeds complacency, or worse. As for the Greens, I just look at places like Waltham Forest (albeit they were Labour controlled till yesterday), where there's more cycling provision, more trees planted, and it just seems a nicer, gentler environment to live in. I thought the same when I was in Paris recently, not far the middle of town the air smells like Devon or somewhere!
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Younger voters are more likely to vote for the Green party, both nationally and locally - for a number of reasons
The Green party is seen as the new model, less parochial, more European/international, more in touch with issues
Anecdata obv
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We voted Green because it felt like Labour had ceded all responsibility for dealing with the traffic on the Ladder roads to eye-wateringly expensive consultants who don't have a clue what it's really like to live in the area.
Because they sold out Finsbury Park on a five-year contract with no consultation.
Because they had 20 years to implement a cycle plan on Green Lanes but instead capitulated time and time again to the traders.
Because Ducketts Common under their tenure has become a public toilet with human excrement behind every tree (and on open grass) because no one seems willing to enforce the cafe's contract that dictates people should be allowed to use the toilets inside at all times. Signs directing people there would be a start!
Because the pavements on the streets nearest Turnpike Lane, that have some of the highest footfall, have been left to buckle while other streets have been repaved.
Because of litter everywhere and the lack of street cleaning.
Because they sought to carve up Belmont Rec, the nicest and most natural green space in the area, to add more sports provision with floodlights when the area is already well served for that.
Because after decades running Haringey, Labour had developed the attitude and arrogance of a party that's spent decades in power and as residents with genuine grassroots issues that are being ignored, we felt the borough was long overdue a change.
Plus, every conversation we had on the doorstep with our Green candidates left us with a sense of truly being heard. They might not be able to fix everything, but they really, really want to try.
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