Liberal Democrats Cruise Home in Southfield Ward
Big victory margin as party makes gains across the borough
The new larger Liberal Democrat group on Ealing Council
May 8, 2026
As widely expected, the three incumbent Liberal Democrat councillors in Southfield ward retained their seats by a large margin.
The overnight count at Greenford Hall confirmed that Gary Busuttil, Gary Malcolm and Andrew Steed were all returned ward, which covers much of the north of Chiswick.
They were all over one thousand votes ahead of the two Green candidates who polled the second highest votes by party with Labour in third and the Conservatives not far behind.
The result consolidates the party’s stronghold in the area and contributes to its wider gains across Ealing borough, where the Lib Dems more than doubled their representation on the council to thirteen winning seats in wards such as Walpole and Ealing Broadway as well as consolidating their position in Hanger Hill and Ealing Common.
Cllr Malcolm, who looks set to remain the leader of the opposition post on social mead, “Very proud to have more than doubled the Ealing @LibDems. Official Opposition group since 2022 by gaining from both Labour and the Conservatives. With 13 Councillors, we are determined to hold Ealing Labour to account and stand up for you.”
The gains made by both the Liberal Democrats and the Greens in the borough, as well as a surprise win for the Conservatives in North Greenford, were insufficient to make a significant dent in Labour’s majority, which still holds 46 seats.
| Southfield Ward Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Result |
| Gary Busuttil | Liberal Democrat | 2,587 | Elected |
| Gary Malcolm | Liberal Democrat | 2,567 | Elected |
| Andrew Steed | Liberal Democrat | 2,488 | Elected |
| Laura Darwish | Green Party | 1,181 | — |
| Mike Landon | Green Party | 1,035 | — |
| Ayomilekan Adegunwa | Labour | 859 | — |
| Dean Gilligan | Labour | 825 | — |
| Jeannie Okikiolu | Labour | 794 | — |
| Chris Brown | Conservative | 768 | — |
| Charlotte Duthie | Conservative | 704 | — |
| Darryll Coates | Conservative | 657 | — |
| Elaine Jelly | Reform UK | 465 | — |
| Matthew Martin | Reform UK | 450 | — |
| Tom Vanson | Reform UK | 425 | — |
| Helen Pattison | Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition | 129 | — |
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