2026 Local Elections Thread

[Horizon22]

Seeing as how nominations and notices of poll are out today, I thought it might be worth starting up a new thread here.

Elections are on Thursday 7th May, for all London boroughs, quite a few mostly urban district councils, some unitary authorities - including counties delayed from 2025.

What are people's thoughts? Most of these elections were last up in 2022 when Reform was just a twinkle in Farage's eye so expect big gains there. Probably Greens will do well in parts of London. There's a high chance that 50% of councillors won't be Labour or Conservatives and it's been a long time since that has happened.

 

[Trackman]

Probably Greens will do well in parts of London.

Lewisham Council might pick up a couple, last election in the Ladywell ward was very close between Green and Labour. I can see Ladywell as a knocking bet for the Greens. Lewisham Central is in with a shout too.
I'm wondering what disgruntled Labour voters will do in those wards, TBH I cant seeing many of them voting Reform.

 

[Horizon22]

I'm wondering what disgruntled Labour voters will do in those wards, TBH I cant seeing many of them voting Reform.

Probably vote Green!

 

[Trackman]

Probably vote Green!

My thinking too

 

[Gloster]

One thing that has struck me, although others may interpret it differently, is that Farage seems to be trying to damp down expectations of what Reform might do. Whether this is because he knows that too many failing Reform councils will damage the party, both in its General Election chances or in its (his) earning power, or whether he finds having to defend the messes that some of the councils are making too boring, I do not know.

 

[Horizon22]

One thing that has struck me, although others may interpret it differently, is that Farage seems to be trying to damp down expectations of what Reform might do. Whether this is because he knows that too many failing Reform councils will damage the party, both in its General Election chances or in its (his) earning power, or whether he finds having to defend the messes that some of the councils are making too boring, I do not know.

Well Reform did make all these claims prior to the last elections that councils needed a “shake up” and were spending loads of money - remember that pitiful version of the “British DOGE”?

Then very new Reform councillors realised there weren’t any savings to be had a most of the spend was statutory and Reform councils put council tax up, having pledged to cut it. And throw in a smattering of xenophobia too. It all showed a lack of awareness of what councils actually do. It can’t have helped that it was often a wholesale change of people and less gradual that perhaps previously.

They are very good at pointing out problems and scapegoating the cause, less so in actually fixing the issues so far it seems. So I think some of the distancing is perhaps wise.

 

[brad465]

Birmingham will be a bloodbath for Labour, as they are the incumbent administration there that had to deal with bin strikes and bankruptcy, coupled with the national government being unpopular and not really helping the council. Not all of this is the council's fault, as central government funding is still needed, but a combination of perception and genuine fault for other failings will not help the administration.

Who takes over though could be anyone's guess, where no overall control of some form looks highly likely: Reform might be the anti-incumbent vote there, however the city has a strong Muslim/pro-Gaza cohort that did well in the 2024 general election across the city, so any Green or Worker's Party candidates, or equivalent standing on this platform stand to do well.

 

[DarloRich]

Nationally, I think Labour will have a terrible day & lose control of councils like Sunderland, Gateshead, Bradford, Barnsley and Wakefield to Reform and I think Reform will clean up in the eastern counties where they have MP's. Thier naff performance in the councils they do hold will have zero impact and they will end up with a massive number of seats.

I think Milton Keynes will see quite clean out of labour councillors.

All members of the council are up for re election following boundary changes with 3 more councillors to be elected taking the numbers to 60 on after a new ward was created to cover the expansion of the city.

Currently, Labour have 30 seats, Lib Dems 18 and the Conservatives 9. Labour are one short of a majority but run the council. Reform are pushing very hard in certain areas and I suspect they will do well sadly. I fear Reform will take all 3 seats in my ward. I reckon Labour could lose half the seats they hold with Reform becoming the biggest party but short of a majority (31 seats).

I think the Cons and Lib Dems will pay off about where they are now. Cons will hold the more affluent "rural" areas like Olney. Lib Dems will hold the more middle class areas like Newport Pagnell.

@Bletchleyite might have more to add on MK generally.

 

[Bletchleyite]

@Bletchleyite might have more to add on MK generally.

Not hugely, I don't really have that much interest in the local elections as it barely seems to make any practical difference. I would agree with you that the Labour vote is likely to end up with either Reform or the Greens though, maybe the Lib Dems for some. I'm as yet undecided (aside from that I will never vote Reform). I've never voted Labour locally that I can remember, though, I don't think they do a particularly good job of it - local politics are often very different from national ones and that does mean quite a few people vote differently at each.

 

[Horizon22]

Birmingham will be a bloodbath for Labour, as they are the incumbent administration there that had to deal with bin strikes and bankruptcy, coupled with the national government being unpopular and not really helping the council. Not all of this is the council's fault, as central government funding is still needed, but a combination of perception and genuine fault for other failings will not help the administration.

Who takes over though could be anyone's guess, where no overall control of some form looks highly likely: Reform might be the anti-incumbent vote there, however the city has a strong Muslim/pro-Gaza cohort that did well in the 2024 general election across the city, so any Green or Worker's Party candidates, or equivalent standing on this platform stand to do well.

Speaking of Workers Party candidates in Birmingham, behold this amazing video of a candidate that has been doing the rounds on social media.

Workers Party Of Britain on Instagram: "In #wardend we have a fantastic candidate. A party man. Not another "independent" that will end up with the Greens. So VOTE Julien, Vote WORKERS and you'll get what you voted for. @Omar Yousaf @George Galloway

13K likes, 2,380 comments - workerspartygb on March 29, 2026: "In #wardend we have a fantastic candidate. A party man. Not another "independent" that will end up with the Greens. So VOTE Julien, Vote WORKERS and you'll get what you voted for. @Omar Yousaf @George Galloway Akhmed Yakoob @Danny...

www.instagram.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Mar 2026 ==

Nationally, I think Labour will have a terrible day & lose control of councils like Sunderland, Gateshead, Bradford, Barnsley and Wakefield to Reform and I think Reform will clean up in the eastern counties where they have MP's. Thier naff performance in the councils they do hold will have zero impact and they will end up with a massive number of seats.

It would be interesting if any of the councils that are Reform-run have elections this time around, but I don't think the cycle fits for them so soon.

 

[AlterEgo]

Speaking of Workers Party candidates in Birmingham, behold this amazing video of a candidate that has been doing the rounds on social media.

Workers Party Of Britain on Instagram: "In #wardend we have a fantastic candidate. A party man. Not another "independent" that will end up with the Greens. So VOTE Julien, Vote WORKERS and you'll get what you voted for. @Omar Yousaf @George Galloway

13K likes, 2,380 comments - workerspartygb on March 29, 2026: "In #wardend we have a fantastic candidate. A party man. Not another "independent" that will end up with the Greens. So VOTE Julien, Vote WORKERS and you'll get what you voted for. @Omar Yousaf @George Galloway Akhmed Yakoob @Danny...

www.instagram.com

I'm always sceptical when people tell me to behold Instagram videos but this one really delivered. A true fever dream, what a country.

 

[Trackman]

Speaking of Workers Party candidates in Birmingham, behold this amazing video of a candidate that has been doing the rounds on social media.

Workers Party Of Britain on Instagram: "In #wardend we have a fantastic candidate. A party man. Not another "independent" that will end up with the Greens. So VOTE Julien, Vote WORKERS and you'll get what you voted for. @Omar Yousaf @George Galloway

13K likes, 2,380 comments - workerspartygb on March 29, 2026: "In #wardend we have a fantastic candidate. A party man. Not another "independent" that will end up with the Greens. So VOTE Julien, Vote WORKERS and you'll get what you voted for. @Omar Yousaf @George Galloway Akhmed Yakoob @Danny...

www.instagram.com

Hahaha Brilliant!!

 

[Horizon22]

I'm always sceptical when people tell me to behold Instagram videos but this one really delivered. A true fever dream, what a country.

Aha, well I do try and deliver!

 

[Andyh82]

One thing that is interesting and I’m not sure how it’s happened, is that the metropolitan councils in West Yorks are all out elections, whereas normally it’s a 3rd of councillors.

This could be major as normally you can’t do much damage with a 3rd. I can imagine with a combination of Reform in the outer wards and Green/Independents/Gaza candidates in the inner wards (and probably Tories in the far outer wards like Ilkley) it could be a bloodbath for Labour in Bradford

 

[Altnashin]

My local councils have a high chance of being gained by Reform.
As much as I dislike Reform, part of me wants them to win a lot of councils, just to see how they cope.

Problem is that local media has been decimated and what remains is dominated by Reach PLC.

For balance, all political parties should face fair and scrutiny of their record and policies, if, for example, a Reform local council does something genuinely beneficial to local residents, it should be reported as such.

 

[Horizon22]

One thing that is interesting and I’m not sure how it’s happened, is that the metropolitan councils in West Yorks are all out elections, whereas normally it’s a 3rd of councillors.

Depends where you are - some are all councillors, some are in thirds. Normally where it is all councillors is where boundaries have changed.

 

[bluenoxid]

Leeds isn’t an all out election (just a third of Councillors) but the boundaries were reviewed in 2018. The other four are all out elections.

 

[Trackman]

Depends where you are - some are all councillors, some are in thirds. Normally where it is all councillors is where boundaries have changed.

Lewisham council is all out, top 3 or 2 votes for the wards.

As I said up thread, I can see Greens at least having one seat in the Ladywell ward.

 

[Strathclyder]

My local councils have a high chance of being gained by Reform.
As much as I dislike Reform, part of me wants them to win a lot of councils, just to see how they cope.

Given what we've seen with Kent County etc, it really wouldn't be worth it for the damage they'd do and the mess they'd leave behind, as cathartic as watching them fail spectacularly at every turn would no doubt be.

 

[Altnashin]

Given what we've seen with Kent County etc, it really wouldn't be worth it for the damage they'd do and the mess they'd leave behind, as cathartic as watching them fail spectacularly at every turn would no doubt be.

But if you believe the local Reform Group, everything is going well at KCC, it’s all the “lefty wokes” to blame.
It is inevitable that Reform will control a lot more councils after May 7th and there performance will give a good idea about any credibility they may or may not have.

 

[Horizon22]

Lewisham council is all out, top 3 or 2 votes for the wards.

As I said up thread, I can see Greens at least having one seat in the Ladywell ward.

London boroughs always are, every 4 years.

 

[Trackman]

London boroughs always are, every 4 years.

Correct
Why don't other councils do the same to save some money?

 

[Andyh82]

Leeds isn’t but that was reviewed in 2018. The other four are all out elections.

Normally when it’s only a third, the voters can’t do too much damage

Whatever short term support or kicking voters are giving a party based often on a national issue, the other 2/3rds of the council are uneffected and it usually doesn’t effect the overall control of the council.

One thing I’ve noticed in my area, so they can go back to the usual thirds next time, the candidate who comes 3rd and gets elected, only has a 1 year term before they are up again next year!

 

[Horizon22]

Correct
Why don't other councils do the same to save some money?

Range of reasons. Some are historical but also elections by thirds also mean you are less likely to get a drastic upheaval in the number of councillors all at once - including who control the council - which can be highly disruptive.

There’s also a concern that it’s a longer time for the “mandate” to be held without being tested; as we can tell now, 3 years is a long time in politics!

In addition without PR in elections, you are more likely to get tyranny of the majority. It could be very close between two parties but as long as voters don’t like to “split” their votes (although it does happen), then one party gets all 2/3 seats.

Does look like we’re moving away from this method though to going for all out, mainly for cost as you say.

 

[Andyh82]

I’m getting the feeling we are going to end up with loads and loads of councils under no overall control

Younger leftie Jeremy Corbyn style voters won’t think Starmer is left enough so will move towards the Greens
Older traditional Labour voting working class will move towards Reform
Traditional Tories who were fed up with them and gave Labour a chance will probably go back to the Conservatives
Then you’ve also got independents and ‘local independent groups’ in certain areas

All generalisations and stereotypes of course

As a result you can imagine three parties getting around 25% of the vote each

 

[Horizon22]

Quite likely, especially across London I feel.

 

[MP33]

In my seat. I have had leaflets through the door, from the Conservatives and Reform. Nothing whatsoever from Labour, Liberal Democrats and The Greens. I think why do they bother standing.

 

[Horizon22]

In my seat. I have had leaflets through the door, from the Conservatives and Reform. Nothing whatsoever from Labour, Liberal Democrats and The Greens. I think why do they bother standing.

I mean there’s no deposit to pay. Also not every party has a proper base in every local area to allow for a proper campaign. Organising leaflets & delivery undoubtedly takes time/money/resources. Even standing candidates is a process.

At least the latter allows people to vote for who they want to.

 

[weeklycommuter]

Many voters in England outside the metropolitan areas have elections for a council or two councils in some cases that will be abolished on 1 April 2028 to be replaced by new unitary councils to be elected next year. I wonder how many will bother to vote when they know the council or councils will be abolished in less than two years. Whoever is elected will not be able to do anything interesting. Their job will be to close the council down.

 

[cactustwirly]

I do not have any elections this year. The full council is up in 2027

However I am taking great pleasure the incompetent Labour administration in neighbouring Reading is going to be decimated by the Greens