Modest advances
It is little wonder that those attending the recent Labour and Conservative party conferences spent much of their time looking over their shoulders at Reform UK.
Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher
Robust support
Local by-elections continue to see Reform UK mainly, but not exclusively, progress against both main parties. Volatility abounds, with 16 of 35 seats changing hands.
Turnover accelerating
The 1 May elections saw hundreds of seats changing hands, but recent by-elections show turnover accelerating; of 23 recent by-elections, 61 per cent resulted in the defending party being defeated.
A new multi-party system
The council elections on 1 May opened a fissure in the pattern of local government in England.
A new multi-party system
The council elections on 1 May opened a fissure in the pattern of local government in England.
More candidates contesting vacancies
Recent by-elections show a trend towards higher candidate numbers: almost half the contests last year had five or more candidates on the ballot.
May Day: local and mayoral elections preview
Many of the Conservative councillors who face re-election on 1 May have benefited from events.
Electoral momentum
Reform UK’s electoral momentum continues with another five gains (three from Labour, two from Conservative), bringing its total to 13 since the general election.
Democracy is about more than efficiencies
By-elections were thin on the ground in January, with attention in the local government community focused instead on the structural reforms proposed in the recent English Devolution White Paper, and the consequent postponement of some of this year’s scheduled county council elections.