A look ahead to May’s elections
There is scope for the Conservatives to add councils and councillors to their tally, while the Liberal Democrats will expect to make advances, write Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher.
Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher
Who is better at fighting elections?
Labour’s search for a convincing explanation of its woeful General Election showing focuses mainly on Brexit and leadership.
Local council results foretold General Election
Throughout 2019, Labour’s local vote failed to impress – just five gains were made, only two of which were from the Conservatives. By contrast, Labour lost 18 seats, six of those defeats to the Conservatives.
A volatile electorate
The latest British Election Study report highlights just how volatile the electorate has become. When it began in the early 1960s, just one in eight voters changed their allegiance between General Elections; now some 50 per cent say they voted in different ways between 2010 and 2017.
Conservatives defend seats as turnout falls
Despite the national party’s continuing struggles at Westminster, Conservative candidates defended two seats and gained another in recent local contests.
Local election results 2019
Multi-party politics is back with a vengeance, with a leap in the number of Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent councillors.
Swing against the party establishment
The two main parties continue to struggle, and Liberal Democrats and Independents are taking advantage.
Parlous state of party politics
So far, local government has avoided most of the extremes of turbulence that seem to characterise current national politics.
Lib Dems gains in local contests
While Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determinedly seizing the political agenda, it is the Liberal Democrats who are making the electoral weather.
Local elections 2019
The Conservatives could lose most of their 2015 gains but Labour needs to make substantial advances.