Elections for the London Borough of Merton were held on 8 May 1986 to elect members of Merton London Borough Council in London, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England and Scotland.^[1]

Quick Facts All 57 council seats on Merton London Borough Council, Turnout ...

1986 Merton London Borough Council election

← 1982 8 May 1986 1990 →
All 57 council seats on Merton London Borough Council
Turnout	49.8% (2.3%)[1][2]
First party Second party Third party   Party Conservative Labour Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Last election 44 seats, 51.2% 13 seats, 25.4% 0 seats, 1.5% Seats won 29 25 3 Seat change 15 12 3 Popular vote 69,161 59,974 3,919 Percentage 41.1% 35.7% 2.3% Swing 10.1% 10.3% 0.8%
Council leader before election Harry Cowd Conservative Council leader after election Harry Cowd Conservative

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The whole council was up for election and the incumbent majority Conservative administration remained in overall control of the council, its majority reduced to one seat.^[3]

At the last election, the Conservatives had remained in overall majority control of the council, winning 44 seats. The Labour Party was returned as the only opposition party, with 13 seats.^[3] In the same election, Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association lost all their three seats to the Conservatives.^[2]

Following the death of Cllr. Michael Page, at a by-election in Longthornton on 15 March 1984, the Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Association regained one of their seats from the Conservatives.^[2]

More information Party, Seats ...

Merton Local Election Result 1986^{[1][n 1][n 2]}

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Conservative	29	0	15	15	50.9%	41.1%	69,161	10.1%
	Labour	25	12	0	12	43.9%	35.7%	59,974	10.3%
	Longthornton and Tamworth Residents	3	3	0	3	5.3%	2.3%	3,919	0.8%
	Alliance	0	0	0	0	0%	20.4%	34,325	1.1%
	Independent	0	0	0	0	0%	0.4%	630	n/a
	National Front	0	0	0	0	0	0.1%	154

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In Durnsford, future Prime Minister Theresa May was first elected to public office, holding the seat for the Conservative Party and beating Tony Colman, the future Labour MP for Putney, who also later led Merton Council between 1991 and 1997.