Redbridge Labour has kept hold of Wanstead Park in a by-election, but with a reduced majority.

Emma Shepherd-Mallinson was elected as a new councillor for the ward on November 14.

She beat five other candidates, winning the seat with 934 votes – a majority of 585.

Redbridge Council called the by-election after former councillor Bayo Alaba stepped down in July after being elected the Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford.

In the 2022 local elections, Alaba was elected to the Wanstead Park seat with 1,463 votes and majority of more than 900.

Speaking to the Waltham Forest Echo, Cllr Shepherd-Mallinson said she was “very honoured to be elected” and “grateful for everyone that’s voted”. 

The new councillor, who has lived in the ward for almost seven years, added: “I’m really excited about doing the job, it’s an amazing mandate and it’s really important to be a local champion and represent the area I live in.”

In leaflets shared with residents, Cllr Shepherd-Mallinson also pledged to “fight to support and protect” Aldersbrook Doctors’ Surgery, and work to revitalise the shops in Aldersbrook Road.

Daniel Moraru, the Conservative candidate, came in second place with 349 votes.

Ilford Independents candidate Sharula Kangle came third, with 284 votes.

Health Secretary and Ilford North MP Wes Streeting said last month that he was “confident but not complacent” about Labour’s chances in the by-election.

In July’s general election, he came within 560 votes of losing his seat to independent candidate Leanne Mohamad who ran on a pro-Palestine platform.

Cllr Shepherd-Mallinson joins fellow Labour councillor Sheila Bain representing the ward. Cllr Bain was nominated as Redbridge mayor in July and has been on the council since 2014.

Labour controls Redbridge Council with 55 councillors. The Tories form the official opposition, with five councillors. Three independents also sit on the council.

A total of 2,000 ballots were cast. Voter turnout was 35.68 per cent.

The full results are as follows:

Emma Shepherd-Mallinson (Labour) – 934 votes

Daniel Moraru (Conservatives) – 349 votes

Sharula Kangle (Ilford Independents) – 284 votes

Syed Siddiqi (Green Party) – 222 votes

Neil Hepworth (Liberal Democrats) – 109 votes

Raj Forhad (Reform UK) – 95 votes