2022 UK Local Elections

[DanNCL]

Labour have clung on to Sunderland, only losing 1 seat (to the Lib Dems). Perhaps the most notable in Sunderland is Fulwell, which the Lib Dems have taken from the Tories finishing more than 900 votes ahead.

Understanding the situation in that specific ward there was a very strong Lib Dem campaign there, and the previous incumbent Tory councillor was standing down, so that ward probably is more of a fluke than an indicator of how things are going to go elsewhere, but still notable.

 

[GusB]

Hang on, doesn't it actually help the Tories if you rank them? I thought the Scottish council elections allowed you to rank (or not rank) who you wanted, it isn't obligatory to rank every candidate...right?

Not if you rank all the candidates and put those you least like at the bottom of the list.

My ward has three councillors, and there were six candidates standing: 2 tories, 1 Labour, 1 SNP, 1 Libdem and an independent.

This area is split fairly equally between the Tories and SNP, so there's a fair chance that a Tory councillor will be elected. By ranking them the lowest, I can at least have some say in what happens should my higher preferences be unsuccessful.

 

[daodao]

Labour have clung on to Sunderland, only losing 1 seat (to the Lib Dems). Perhaps the most notable in Sunderland is Fulwell, which the Lib Dems have taken from the Tories finishing more than 900 votes ahead.

Understanding the situation in that specific ward there was a very strong Lib Dem campaign there, and the previous incumbent Tory councillor was standing down, so that ward probably is more of a fluke than an indicator of how things are going to go elsewhere, but still notable.

While there are some Labour gains in Londonopolis, in the rest of England, they show little signs of the major gains that would normally be expected of the main opposition party in the middle of a parliamentary term. It does not augur well for Labour at the next general election, given that polyglot London is as unrepresentative of the rest of England as Paris is of La France profonde. IMO, the choice of Sir Keir Starmer as the Labour leader was a mistake.

 

[DelayRepay]

While there are some Labour gains in Londonopolis, in the rest of England, they show little signs of the major gains that would normally be expected of the main opposition party in the middle of a parliamentary term. It does not augur well for Labour at the next general election, given that polyglot London is as unrepresentative of the rest of England as Paris is of La France profonde. IMO, the choice of Sir Keir Starmer as the Labour leader was a mistake.

Yes, I think Labour will be delighted with their performance in London, but the rest of the country is nothing to get excited about. They hardly seem likely to sweep into power at the next General Election based on the results so far.

The main beneficiaries of the 'anti-Tory' sentiment appear to be the Lib Dems - returning to their traditional role as recipient of protest votes as memories of the 2010 coalition government fade?

 

[LittleAH]

Yes, I think Labour will be delighted with their performance in London, but the rest of the country is nothing to get excited about. They hardly seem likely to sweep into power at the next General Election based on the results so far.

The main beneficiaries of the 'anti-Tory' sentiment appear to be the Lib Dems - returning to their traditional role as recipient of protest votes as memories of the 2010 coalition government fade?

There are a few caveats at play and the commentators are definitely misleading people compared to the pollsters. Pollsters are looking at this in terms of a GE from a 2019 base, the seats lost/gained are actually from a 2018 LE base when Labour did reasonably well. It pretty much shows the national polls to be on point, with Labour ahead by around 7 points. So Labour currently, if there was a GE tomorrow, would be the biggest party but not close to a majority - as expected really.

 

[telstarbox]

While there are some Labour gains in Londonopolis, in the rest of England, they show little signs of the major gains that would normally be expected of the main opposition party in the middle of a parliamentary term. It does not augur well for Labour at the next general election, given that polyglot London is as unrepresentative of the rest of England as Paris is of La France profonde. IMO, the choice of Sir Keir Starmer as the Labour leader was a mistake.

In particular in Westminster, is it right that in the 80s most of the residents were wealthy British people (who would vote Tory) but they've since been replaced with wealthy people from other countries who can't vote here?

 

[duncanp]

While there are some Labour gains in Londonopolis, in the rest of England, they show little signs of the major gains that would normally be expected of the main opposition party in the middle of a parliamentary term. It does not augur well for Labour at the next general election, given that polyglot London is as unrepresentative of the rest of England as Paris is of La France profonde. IMO, the choice of Sir Keir Starmer as the Labour leader was a mistake.

In my local council, Sandwell, Labour have made a net gain of two seats, and the Conservatives a net gain of one seat.

In fact, the election result is misleading in that Labour actually lost two seats to the Conservatives, but picked up two seats from the Conservatives, and gained the two seats that were vacant before the election.

This is a "red wall" area where three out of the four MPs that represent Sandwell are Conservatives, and one is Labour.

Whilst it is true that Labour have made gains, their gains have not been sufficient for them to have an overall majority at Westminster after the next election, were this performance to be repeated at a national level.

Of course, not all the results are in yet, and things can change a lot in two years.

 

[Typhoon]

If I was a Labour, LibDem or Green councillor I'm not sure I would want to be in the majority. With fewer councils in Conservative control HMG can squeeze local government still further knowing it will have less effect on their supporters; meanwhile local Conservatives can point to opposition councils and their failure to provide services (because Council Tax is capped but councils are expected to do more with, in all likelihood, very little additional funding).

 

[nw1]

My council ward options are 3 SNP, 2 Labour, 1 Conservative, 1 LibDem, 1 Green and 1 Alba.

What a miserable selection. The 4 main parties, none of whom I can trust and the only outside choices are the wrong politics for me.

At least you have something other than the hated first-past-the-post which is what we're stuck with. Three councillors, but each is voted for separately in different years on a FPTP system. Result is that all three are of the same party (Tory) even though the ward Tory vote is perhaps 40%.

 

[Kite159]

No doubt some of the new councillors of all the parties will be fast to jump on the expenses gravy train.
Some will get caught out claiming for dodgy things and get thrown out of the party but remain a councillor who will do bugger all

 

[jfollows]

In particular in Westminster, is it right that in the 80s most of the residents were wealthy British people (who would vote Tory) but they've since been replaced with wealthy people from other countries who can't vote here?

I'm sure that the parliamentary constituency has the largest percentage of non-voting adults (by being foreign nationals, mainly) of any in the country. Means that the MP represents a different mix of people than vote for him/her. If I'm right, I suspect that Kensington and Chelsea will come second.

 

[uglymonkey]

Yes, I think Labour will be delighted with their performance in London, but the rest of the country is nothing to get excited about. They hardly seem likely to sweep into power at the next General Election based on the results so far.

The main beneficiaries of the 'anti-Tory' sentiment appear to be the Lib Dems - returning to their traditional role as recipient of protest votes as memories of the 2010 coalition government fade?

Sometimes I think that London should be a separate country from England - its so different and "skews" any political discussion about England.

 

[telstarbox]

What would that achieve? Would the millions of Home Counties commuters need a visa to get on the train?

 

[uglymonkey]

Duty Free shop at Surbition - Clearly

 

[nw1]

I'm sure that the parliamentary constituency has the largest percentage of non-voting adults (by being foreign nationals, mainly) of any in the country. Means that the MP represents a different mix of people than vote for him/her. If I'm right, I suspect that Kensington and Chelsea will come second.

Of course, allowing foreign nationals to vote isn't necessarily a bad thing if they are permanent residents. I would go so far as to allow permanent-resident foreign nationals to vote in things like general elections and Brexit referenda (the latter, particularly - as I have no doubt Remain would have secured a narrow majority had permanent-resident EU nationals been allowed to vote; why should the views on Brexit of a Tommy Robinson-supporting far-right extremist count for more than an EU permanent resident just because they were born here?) but sadly that POV does not seem to be too popular.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 May 2022 ==

What would that achieve? Would the millions of Home Counties commuters need a visa to get on the train?

Presumably even Patel (as one of the ministers of England-extra-London) would not be mad enough to ban automatic freedom of movement between the Republic of Londinia (trying to think of what name it might have) and the rest of England.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 May 2022 ==

Sometimes I think that London should be a separate country from England - its so different and "skews" any political discussion about England.

What annoys me most is the assumption by the right-wing press that the "rest of England" are all Brexit-supporting, xenophobic small-c conservatives and that liberal, left-of-centre, or pro-EU views are dismissed by some on the right, notably the Mail, Express etc, as "London only, so don't matter".

Not all of "middle England" are right-wing Brexiters, time for the right-wing press to stop assuming this and belittling other views.

 

[Horizon22]

Yes, I think Labour will be delighted with their performance in London, but the rest of the country is nothing to get excited about. They hardly seem likely to sweep into power at the next General Election based on the results so far.

The main beneficiaries of the 'anti-Tory' sentiment appear to be the Lib Dems - returning to their traditional role as recipient of protest votes as memories of the 2010 coalition government fade?

I think that's a bit unfair to call it just a protest - yes some will be angry with others and thus pivot their vote, but in their own right Lib Dems often make very good local councillors with a strong community focus from what I've seen and have good campaigns too.

Places that get a good Lib Dem presence and even run the council, tend to stay pretty consistent its just they don't often have the resources to get that far!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

On this website and in the media, attempts were made to ignore the fact that it was the 2022 Local Elections that were to be decided and people were decried for attempting to in the words of our beloved website staff, "to stay on topic".

So, why when "Partygate et al" and the character of the Prime Minister has been to the fore in the run up to these Local Elections, why has Labour lost control of Hull?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 May 2022 ==

I think that's a bit unfair to call it just a protest - yes some will be angry with others and thus pivot their vote, but in their own right Lib Dems often make very good local councillors with a strong community focus from what I've seen and have good campaigns too.

Places that get a good Lib Dem presence and even run the council, tend to stay pretty consistent its just they don't often have the resources to get that far!

I believe that the Greater Manchester constituency of Stockport is still under No Overall Control with the Lib Dems being the largest party,

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 May 2022 ==

Presumably even Patel (as one of the ministers of England-extra-London) would not be mad enough to ban automatic freedom of movement between the Republic of Londinia (trying to think of what name it might have).......

Londinium

 

[MikeWM]

Seems like a fairly terrible set of results for Labour - they're not going to win a general election by picking up a couple more seats in London.

Unlike in 2018, when these seats were last up for grabs, Brexit is now 'done', but nevertheless they're clearly not improving their standing outside the metropolitan suburbs and university towns (their vote share outside London is apparently *down* on 2018). Those who 'loaned' their vote to the Conservatives 'to get Brexit done' aren't coming back to Labour, at this point at least.

 

[jon0844]

I wonder how many people think that if they vote Labour tomorrow, their energy bills will be reduced as Labour will implement the windfall tax.

It’s what Starmer and Labour are running with regularly on Twitter. It seems to me many people will be disappointed.

I think what the outcome might do (given how terrible it has turned out for the Tories, albeit with Labour and Lib Dem splitting the votes) is force the Government to take another look at what it can do, so it might indirectly have a positive outcome.

It might also mean Boris actually going - as the number of Tory councillors trying to distance themselves from the main party means it's now clear (if it wasn't before!) how toxic Boris and many others are.

Of course, I fully expect more and more excuses the narrative being more focussed on Labour not having a great night (on account of the Lib Dems taking so many seats) and somehow making it sound like it wasn't actually too bad after all.

 

[Howardh]

I did vote - I always so - but my preferred option wasn't on the paper "None Of The Above". I suppose I'm politically homeless, so I plump for the lesser evil of the Libbydems. If it were a GE in my constituency i would have to vote Labour to kick the Tory out, which would be a negative vote.

Overall though, if I were the PM I'd call a snap election and hope to lose. Frankly, any party taking the UK through the next five years with inflation, cost of living crisis, power bills, wage demands, Brexit fall-out, not even mentioning escalation of Ukraine, possibly more covid....they would have the five years from Hell to deal with and would be sitting ducks in 2027 or earlier!

 

[northwichcat]

Had to smile, the Tory candidate on my ballot paper was for the "Local Conservatives", reminds me of the League of Gentlemen...

I thought for the ballot paper members of the Conservative party were either an official 'Conservative Party candidate' or not. Is there perhaps a 'Local Conservative' party registered in your area?

 

[Cloud Strife]

Not if you rank all the candidates and put those you least like at the bottom of the list.

My ward has three councillors, and there were six candidates standing: 2 tories, 1 Labour, 1 SNP, 1 Libdem and an independent.

This area is split fairly equally between the Tories and SNP, so there's a fair chance that a Tory councillor will be elected. By ranking them the lowest, I can at least have some say in what happens should my higher preferences be unsuccessful.

Wait, surely (if it came down to it) - the Tory vote would still be counted as a Tory vote if the count needed it? Whereas if you completely ignore the Tories and don't rank them, they can never receive your vote?

I know it's highly unlikely that it would go as far as 5th and 6th preferences with just three councilors, but wouldn't you still be running the risk of it happening by ranking them in any way?

As for the results so far, it looks like the Greens have started to make a breakthrough at the local level in Scotland. It'll be interesting to see if the Greens are capable of taking votes away from the Tories, particularly in the Tory heartlands.

 

[jfollows]

Richmond (London) interested me, again the Conservative vote appears to have crashed, going from 11 to 1 councillor, whereas Lib Dem went from 39 to 48.
Details from https://www.theguardian.com/politic...lts-live-local-council-england-scotland-wales

 

[birchesgreen]

I thought for the ballot paper members of the Conservative party were either an official 'Conservative Party candidate' or not. Is there perhaps a 'Local Conservative' party registered in your area?

They must have changed their party name since the last election. Not sure this should be allowed if you are the incumbent.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

The Conservative Party registered Local Conservatives so can use this against their candidates.

 

[DarloRich]

Perhaps the most notable in Sunderland is Fulwell, which the Lib Dems have taken from the Tories finishing more than 900 votes ahead.

Understanding the situation in that specific ward there was a very strong Lib Dem campaign there, and the previous incumbent Tory councillor was standing down, so that ward probably is more of a fluke than an indicator of how things are going to go elsewhere, but still notable.

Speaking to family ( one of whom lives in this ward) the Lib Dems fielded a genuinely good candidate who seems popular with all voters, and one who worked the shoe leather very hard to become "known" in the area.

 

[brad465]

Seems like a fairly terrible set of results for Labour - they're not going to win a general election by picking up a couple more seats in London.

Unlike in 2018, when these seats were last up for grabs, Brexit is now 'done', but nevertheless they're clearly not improving their standing outside the metropolitan suburbs and university towns (their vote share outside London is apparently *down* on 2018). Those who 'loaned' their vote to the Conservatives 'to get Brexit done' aren't coming back to Labour, at this point at least.

It's not looking glamourous for Tories either, who have lost more seats on their poor 2018 total. The main winners are the Lib Dems and the Greens.

 

[Busaholic]

Londinium

Londongrad, a city created with the connivance, putting it mildly, of Mayor Johnson, to the detriment of most of the existing population.

 

[MikeWM]

It's not looking glamourous for Tories either, who have lost more seats on their poor 2018 total. The main winners are the Lib Dems and the Greens.

No, indeed - but we're mid-term and there's an awful lot of bad things happening or about to happen. You'd expect the governing party to be doing rather badly.

But you'd also expect the main opposition party to be capitalising on that if they're going to win the next election - instead they're mostly going backwards too. This isn't remotely a 1995-style situation.

 

[Cloud Strife]

But you'd also expect the main opposition party to be capitalising on that if they're going to win the next election - instead they're mostly going backwards too. This isn't remotely a 1995-style situation.

I'd say that the Tories will be relieved at this point. It's proof that Labour has nothing much to offer, and even in Scotland, it looks like their gains are coming as a result of tactical voting by Tories (such as in West Dumbartonshire) rather than as a result of anything genuine to offer. We'll see what happens elsewhere, but I'd expect Labour to gain in the cities as a result of the Tory vote collapsing.

The one thing that seems clear at this point in Scotland is that Unionist voters don't really distinguish that much between the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems.