The Labour Leader of Merton Council says that street cleaning and the anti-Semitism row held the party back in the local elections.

Mark Allison has lost his seat, but will remain leader until the AGM on the 25^th of May.

He says that “we need to convince residents the hard left is no longer welcome in Merton”.

Mr Allison also says that he hopes the next leader will make a review of the borough’s street cleaning and waste service.