London Borough of Sutton - Governance

Governance

Current seat distribution as of May 2010:

The governance of the borough is by Sutton London Borough Council, which is responsible for the administration of Sutton. The council has had a Liberal Democrat administration since 1986. Prior to that it was a Conservative council. Following the London local elections, 2010, the Liberal Democrats returned 43 Councillors and the Conservatives 11. The Labour Party lost all of its seats on the council.

Lord Tope was the Leader of the Council from 1986 to 1999. Councillor Sean Brennan has been the Leader since October 2002 and Councillor Ruth Dombey is the Deputy Leader. The current Leader of the Opposition is Councillor Graham Whitham. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is Councillor Tim Crowley.

Sutton is divided into two parliamentary constituencies, Sutton and Cheam and Carshalton and Wallington.

Paul Burstow is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam, replacing Conservative Lady Olga Maitland in the 1997 General Election. He was previously a Liberal Democrat Councillor.

Tom Brake is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington, replacing Conservative Nigel Forman in the 1997 General Election.

The borough shares its London Assembly member with neighbouring Croydon. It is a safe Conservative seat with the south of Croydon and parts of Sutton traditionally voting towards the Conservatives. The current Assembly Member is Steve O'Connell a local councillor from Croydon who was elected with an increased majority of 43% from Andrew Pelling's time in the seat. Sutton is represented in the European Parliament by the London constituency.