Peter Thompson: The Conservative alternative for Hounslow

Cllr Peter Thompson is Leader of the Conservative Group on Hounslow Council.

Next May, voters in Hounslow will have the chance to re-evaluate a Labour administration that has become bloated, inward-looking and increasingly out of touch with the communities it claims to serve.

Labour may boast a dominant majority, 51 out of 62 seats, but what was once strength has calcified into complacency. Instead of sound governance, we now have a culture of political patronage, silence of scrutiny and a steady decline in public confidence. That’s not just our view. It’s something more and more residents are starting to say out loud.

Hounslow is now one of the worst examples in London of excessive Special Responsibility Allowances, over 70 per cent of councillors receive one. These roles are no longer about accountability or oversight. They’ve become bargaining chips to keep the Labour group intact, where personal loyalty to the leadership is rewarded and independence is punished.

At the same time, democratic checks have been stripped back. Labour has reduced the number of opposition members on scrutiny panels, blocked motions from being presented at full council, and scrapped councillor questions. This is not healthy governance. It’s performative dominance.

It’s also telling that Labour still trades on its 2021 “Council of the Year” award, repeating it at every turn. But that was four years ago. Since then, the standards have dropped. Services have faltered. Resident engagement has weakened. And the administration has become more interested in good headlines than good outcomes.

Recent local elections suggest the cracks are widening. In Brentford East, turnout dropped significantly and Labour’s vote share dipped. In Syon, an Independent won outright. This isn’t a fluke. Residents are telling us that they’re tired of being taken for granted. They want real representation, not rubber-stamped decisions from a council that sees criticism as a threat.

Despite national headwinds, our Conservative vote share has held firm. That resilience matters. It shows that in our strongholds, Chiswick, Hanworth and beyond, we remain trusted and rooted in the day-to-day concerns of the public.

We are a reduced group numerically, but not politically. Our councillors have remained active, credible and responsive. We ask the tough questions. We raise concerns. We put forward policies. And we keep standing up for local priorities, even when the ruling group tries to shut down the debate.

What sets our approach apart is that we genuinely value independence. We don’t over-whip. We trust our members to vote with their conscience and in the best interests of their communities. That’s increasingly rare in Hounslow politics, and residents have noticed.

Whether it’s pushing for cleaner streets, challenging unsuitable development, or supporting local charities and schools, we are present. We aren’t just visible at election time, we are embedded all year round.

Our plan for Hounslow is straightforward and grounded in real-life concerns:

• Fiscal responsibility. We oppose Labour’s default tax rises and consistently propose balanced alternative budgets that safeguard frontline services.
• Smarter planning. We support housing growth that reflects local need, not overdevelopment dictated by remote planners or developer interests.
• Safer, cleaner neighbourhoods. We want pride restored in our public spaces and support visible, local enforcement that residents can trust.
• True accountability. We would restore scrutiny, uphold ethical standards and put transparency back at the heart of council leadership.

The challenge we face locally is mirrored across London. Conservative councillors across the capital are doing the hard yards, but we need more consistent support from the national party.

As someone who’s served as a councillor since 1998 and was once Leader of the Council, I’ve heard plenty of promises about a new strategy for London. The truth is we don’t need another toolkit or slogan, we need real backing, political messaging that resonates with urban voters, and recognition that local government is not just an afterthought.

We need:

• A modern Conservative message for cities like ours, pro-housing but anti-overdevelopment, tough on crime but committed to fairness and community.
• Serious reform of council funding. Urban boroughs face mounting pressures and a patchwork of short-term grants is not enough.
• Stronger national storytelling. Conservative councils are delivering quietly but effectively, and voters in London deserve to hear that.
• Trust in local campaigns. Boroughs like Hounslow need campaign strategies that reflect our realities, not just templates designed for commuter towns.
• A refreshed relationship with younger and more diverse voters, who are open to our values if we take the time to speak to them properly.

Most importantly, we need to stop seeing London as a lost cause. That defeatism trickles down and saps morale. The reality is we have talented candidates, loyal voters and deeply committed councillors. What we need now is belief and backing.