The council was elected by First Past the Post with each elector having two votes in the two-member seats.

Due to World War II, no election had been held to the council since 1937.

[1] The Labour Party stood candidates in all constituencies except the City of London, and Westminster St George's.

Its manifesto proposed a major programme of house building, new schools, and the adoption of the County of London Plan.

[2] The Conservative Party proposed appointing a housing director with responsibility for the construction of new houses, and opposed building large secondary schools, instead arguing for smaller technical schools.