A new multi-party system
The council elections on 1 May opened a fissure in the pattern of local government in England.
elections
Challenges and opportunities
With less than a week to go until the 1 May local elections in England, I wanted to put on record my thanks to all those colleagues who are standing for re-election or standing down.
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.
Disengaged voters
The final by-elections of 2024 only served to emphasise what we have been pointing out for months – that the electorate appears both volatile and disengaged.
Empowering local decision-makers
Let me take the opportunity in this first first magazine of 2025 to wish all LGA member councils a very happy new year.
Low turnout ‘troubling’
Thirteen by-elections followed the resignation of Labour councillors after being voted into Parliament, with a net loss of nine seats.
Voter volatility
Following a general election, especially one as dramatic as 4 July’s, council by-elections can provide evidence about voters in the new political environment.
Horses for courses
The 2 May local elections saw the Conservatives hit their lowest number of councillors and councils controlled for a quarter of a century.