Labour are predicted to win the council elections in Brent, according to a specialist consultancy which focuses on London.

A report released today by the London Communications Agency (LCA) also says if Labour do win the Lib Dems hopes of coming second could be damaged by Sarah Teather’s decision to step down at the general election next year.

LCA have spent the last four years monitoring the political environments in the borough for their report.

They have also scrutinised every relevant poll, track key local, regional and national blogs and teamed up with the London School of Economics to study the results of the past 13 local elections in London.

The report says: “Brent has regularly fluctuated between Labour and no overall control since the1964 local elections.

“In the last 13 elections, the Liberal Democrats have taken a significant number of seats from both Labour and the Conservatives and will hope to hold these.

“Labour are likely to retain power this time around with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats battling it out for second place.”

Adding that Ms Teather, the Lib Dem MP for Brent Central, decision to step down could have an effect on her party in Brent, it ended: “The latter could be hampered by Sarah Teather MP’s planned resignation.”

The report also claims that the turnout will be between 35-40 per cent compared to 62 per cent in 2010 when they took place simultaneously with the general elections.

Labour won the local elections in 2010 to take over the council which was being run by a Conservative/Lib Dem coalition.

The elections take place on May 22.