[1] After the last election in 2006 the Liberal Democrats were the largest party with 27 councillors, compared to 21 for Labour and 15 for the Conservatives.

[2] However between 2006 and 2010 there were a number of changes in the party composition, with firstly in 2007 a councillor for Kensal Green, Berth Joseph defecting from Labour to the Conservatives.

[3] Joseph, after having been suspended from the council for 6 months in 2009,[4] would go to contest the 2010 election as an independent.

[5] Meanwhile, in 2009 a second Labour councillor, Francis Eniola of Welsh Harp ward, also defected to the Conservatives.

[7] Labour aimed to regain control of the council in 2010 and targeted the wards of Dollis Hill, Kilburn, Queensbury, Tokyngton and Willesden, while also fighting to hold Fryent ward.