Simon Hogg, Labour leader of Wandsworth Council, is facing mounting internal dissent and public criticism following a cascade of political missteps, an underwhelming cabinet meeting, and a series of damaging revelations that threaten to derail his leadership.
At a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Hogg presided over a stage-managed display of self-congratulation. Cabinet members lauded their own successes under Labour’s tenure but avoided discussing the most serious issues facing the borough.
Topics left off the agenda included the damning assessment from the Regulator of Social Housing, the controversial draft Events Policy that’s provoked public backlash, and an ongoing legal row over a council press release that misidentified a private landlord.
Two senior cabinet members—Councillor Kate Stock and Councillor Judi Gasser—were notably absent from the meeting. Stock, who represents the same Falconbrook ward as Hogg and serves as Cabinet Member for Children, is widely believed to be co-leading a leadership challenge alongside Councillor Rex Osborn. Their absence from the Wandsworth Council meeting only strengthened speculation that internal moves to oust Hogg are accelerating ahead of Labour’s annual general meeting on 22 April.
Apology
Adding to the growing list of embarrassments for the council, it has been forced to issue an apology to a private landlord after wrongly naming him in a press release about rogue landlords. The statement was quietly taken down from the council’s website following legal intervention. A lawyer for the landlord told Putney.news:
“[The] WBC has since removed this article from its website and, amongst other things, provided an unreserved apology to our client.”
But perhaps the most publicly damaging episode is the council’s misleading claim to have frozen council tax. Hogg and senior Labour councillors have repeatedly asserted that tax has not risen—boasting of London’s lowest B and D bill at £990.
However, a BBC investigation exposed that this figure has increased from last year, rising by £14.60 for the average household. The so-called “freeze” only applies to the Wandsworth-controlled portion of the tax, while overall bills are up due to precepts from the Greater London Authority and other bodies.
Loose leadership
This misrepresentation has provoked widespread criticism, with residents accusing the council of spinning the numbers to score political points. Critics say it’s further proof of a culture of obfuscation at the top of the borough’s leadership.
Hogg, who led Labour to a historic win in 2022 after decades of Conservative control, is now fighting to hold onto his position as council leader. His administration has claimed progress on initiatives like the “Cleaner Borough Plan” and active travel schemes, but critics argue that these headline policies mask deeper failings, especially in housing and communications.
Labour currently holds 34 of the 58 council seats, with the Conservatives on 23 and one Independent. But with trust in the leadership waning, both inside and outside the party, and by-election losses pointing to a broader decline in support, the Labour group’s AGM on 22 April could mark a turning point.
For now, Hogg remains at the helm—but his future as leader of Wandsworth Council is increasingly uncertain.
