Labour Faces Potential Loss of Control of Hounslow Council
Councillor due to appear in court to answer charges of fraud
Cllr Ahtwal (second from left) campaigning with Ruth Cadbury before this year's elections. Picture: Facebook
October 2, 2026
Labour’s slim majority on Hounslow Council looks in serious jeopardy with one of its councillors facing a court appearance.
Cllr Gurbachan Athwal, who represents Heston East for Labour, has been summoned to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 27 October, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed. He is being charged with fraud by abuse of position.
Cllr Athwal, 75, was elected to Hounslow Council for the first time in May 2026, finishing joint second in the three‑member Heston East ward where the Greens topped the poll. According to his published register of interests, he lists himself as an Executive Member of Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, the Sikh temple where the alleged offence is said to have occurred.
The charge comes at a sensitive moment for Hounslow Labour, which currently holds a majority of one on the council. Any suspension, resignation or loss of the party whip could have immediate consequences for the administration’s ability to pass decisions without relying on opposition support.
While each case is handled individually, there is precedent for councillors facing criminal charges being suspended from their party or stepping down from their roles pending legal proceedings.
In London boroughs and elsewhere, councillors charged with offences have often had the whip withdrawn while cases progress through the courts, and some have resigned their seats entirely if charges are serious or if court proceedings extend over many months.
At this stage, Hounslow Labour has not publicly confirmed whether Cllr Athwal will retain the whip, continue in the Labour group, or face internal action.
Cllr Athwal remains an elected councillor unless he resigns or is disqualified under the Local Government Act — something that only occurs following conviction and sentencing above a statutory threshold. Until then, he continues to hold office and represent Heston East.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said, “Gurbachan Singh Athwal, of Southall, was charged with fraud by abuse of position following an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
“He was charged via postal requisition on Friday, 25 September following a voluntary interview in October 2025. He will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 27 October. The charges relate to a role he held as treasurer of a community organisation from 2014 to 2022.”
We have asked the Labour party in Hounslow for comment.
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