The new Tory leader of Wandsworth Council has stepped down after just 44 days in charge.
Aled Richards-Jones said he came to the “very difficult” decision to resign as his work responsibilities had increased since being appointed partner of a law firm last year.
The announcement comes just 44 days after Councillor Richards-Jones was officially elected leader on May 27, following the Tories winning control of the council from Labour by one seat in the local elections.
Labour councillor Simon Hogg, leader of the opposition, said the administration had already been plunged into “chaos”. Labour MP Fleur Anderson, who represents Putney, said residents deserved leaders who worked “for them full time, not as a hobby”.
Councillor Richards-Jones said his work responsibilities had grown more quickly than expected and he could no longer give the time the leadership role required.
He will formally give up the role once his successor has been appointed at the next council meeting on July 22. He will remain a councillor for the Northcote ward, which he has represented for eight years.
Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who represents Tooting, said: “Wandsworth Council needs full-time leadership, not a part-time Tory leader and cabinet members who spend more time infighting. Residents in Wandsworth deserve so much better.”
Councillor Richards-Jones said he was “immensely proud” the party had returned Wandsworth to Conservative control “at the first time of asking following our first defeat in 44 years” in 2022.
He said he had moved quickly to restore “grip, accountability and confidence” faced with “the depth of the underlying operational and financial problems” he claimed had been left by the previous administration.
Councillor Richards-Jones launched spending and constitutional reviews of the authority, with recruitment frozen and “non-essential” spending paused while these are underway.
Wandsworth Conservatives also sent leaflets to residents on the Lennox and Ashburton estates stating it had scrapped plans to redevelop them with more council homes – schemes the group campaigned against while in opposition.
Councillor Richards-Jones said he had taken “immediate steps to begin stabilising the council’s position” since taking charge.
He said: “These first, important steps are only the beginning of what will be a long and challenging process.
“Wandsworth now needs sustained Conservative leadership to restore financial stability, improve everyday services, rebuild confidence in housing, unlock growth and investment, and deliver the change our residents voted for. That requires a leader who can give the task the full time and focus it deserves.”
The announcement has been slammed by Labour politicians.
Councillor Hogg said: “Wandsworth’s Tory Council is in chaos. Their leader has resigned after just 44 days.
“His legacy is taking food vouchers away from children and scrapping council homes for 400 local people. Once again, the Tories are putting in-fighting ahead of serving residents.”
Ms Anderson added: “The residents of Wandsworth deserve council leaders who work for them full time, not as a hobby. Councillor Richards-Jones and his team were clearly unprepared for the demands of running a council.
“If the Wandsworth Tories are readying to make swingeing cuts to the council, which will hit our most vulnerable residents the hardest, the least they could do is to take their work seriously.”
Wandsworth Conservatives said a new leader would be elected in the coming days.
A spokesperson added: “Aled has served as group leader for the past two years, successfully leading the Conservative Group from opposition back into administration at the first time of asking at the 2026 local elections. This election victory saw the Conservatives gain seats across Putney, Tooting and Battersea.
“His administration has laid solid foundations for repairing the damage inherited from the previous Labour administration.
“He returns to the backbenches to continue his eight years of service as a councillor, six of which have been in senior leadership positions both in administration and opposition.”
