Boris Johnson’s recent visit to India may have influenced the Conservatives’ surprise election win in Harrow last week, local Tory councillors have said.

The borrough's Tories, who took control of the council in May 5's elections, highlighted their party’s connection with the Gujarati community, which helped it secure a majority in the West London borough for the first time since 2006.

Mr Johnson visited India in April, where he became the first Conservative prime minister to visit the state of Gujarat. Cllr Nitesh Hirani said there was a clear pattern of Gujarati voters in Harrow voting for the Conservatives in 2022, when previously they would have been inclined to vote Labour.

Read more: Shock as Conservatives take control of Harrow Council for first time since 2006

He said local issues – such as high council tax and problems with fly-tipping – were the main reasons people voted for change, but moves by high-profile politicians also played a part. This included a visit from Priti Patel to Kenton East, a ward that returned three Conservative councillors, in the run up to the elections. 

Cllr Hirani said residents also “recognised the importance” of Mr Johnson’s trip to India. He said: “Lots of people in the Gujarati community would previously have been Labour voters but they have now seen a connection with the Conservatives. 

“Of course things like the Prime Minister visiting Gujarat helps, but we’ve also done the work on the ground and tapped into the core of what people want to see in Harrow.”

Cllr Ameet Jogia, co-chairman of the Conservative Friends of India, said that while the Conservatives are a “party for all communities” there has always been ambitions to highlight the common ground between their values and those of the British Indian community. 

He said: “We’ve always believed that British Indians are naturally Conservative. They value the same things we do – hard work, enterprise, family, education. We’re a party for all communities and always have been. But there’s no denying that Harrow is special, with 29 per cent of the population being British Indian. 

“It’s no fluke that we managed to buck the trend compared to the rest of the country. Even in Brent – a Labour stronghold – we saw Conservatives elected in Gujarati areas. We’ve made active steps to engage with the Gujarati community and the prime minister’s visit to the state, something we helped with, was timed perfectly.”

He added key local issues such as support for small businesses and a commitment to cleaning up the borough’s streets were other reasons people voted Tory. Labour had been in control of the council since 2014, but Thursday’s election saw the Conservatives achieve a majority for the first time since 2006. 

Cllr Paul Osborn, leader of Harrow Council, said his party had shown they “can win in Harrow” despite suggestions it would be an uphill struggle.