Elections for the London Borough of Merton were held on 3 May 1990 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.

Quick Facts All 57 council seats onMerton London Borough Council 29 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

1990 Merton London Borough Council election

← 1986 3 May 1990 1994 →
All 57 council seats on Merton London Borough Council 29 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	53.7%
First party Second party   Party Labour Conservative Seats before 25 27 Seats won 29[1] 22 Seat change 4 7 Popular vote 76,583 74,857 Percentage 42.22% 41.27%   Third party Fourth party   Party Merton Park Residents Longthornton and Tamworth Residents Seats before 0 3 Seats won 3 3 Seat change 3 Popular vote 5,567 3,822 Percentage 3.07% 2.11%   Fifth party   Party Liberal Democrats Seats before 0 Seats won 0 Seat change Popular vote 11,741 Percentage 6.47%
Council leader before election John Elvidge Conservative Council leader after election Geoff Smith Labour

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The whole council was up for election and the Labour Party gained overall control of the council from the Conservatives with a majority of one seat.^[2][3]

At the last election, the Conservatives had gained a majority of one seat. In October 1989, they lost a by-election in Merton Park to Bridget Smith of the Merton Park Ward Residents Association, which had contested the by-election in opposition to the proposed extension of the A24 relief road.^[4][5] This by-election result hung the council, but the Conservatives continued to govern Merton as a minority administration.^[5]

This was the first whole council election which was contested by the MPWRA.

The Conservatives lost their one-seat overall majority of the council to Labour, who themselves gained a one-seat overall majority of the council. The Merton Park Ward Residents Association won all three seats in Merton Park from the Conservatives; they have since maintained these seats in subsequent elections.^[3]

More information Party, Seats ...

Merton Local Election Result 1990^{[6][7][n 1]}

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Labour	29	4	0	4	50.88	42.22	76,583
	Conservative	22	0	7	7	38.60	41.27	74,857
	Merton Park Residents	3	3	0	3	5.26	3.07	5,567
	Longthornton and Tamworth Residents	3	0	0		5.26	2.11	3,822
	Liberal Democrats	0	0	0		0.00	6.47	11,741
	Green	0	0	0		0.00	2.82	5,106
	West Barnes Independent Residents	0	0	0		0.00	1.53	2,781
	Independent	0	0	0		0.00	0.51	932
Total		57						181,389

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In Durnsford, incumbent Conservative councillor and future Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May topped the poll. This was the last election she contested in Merton.