VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Reform vows ‘large-scale reversal’ of LTNs
19/05/2025 Reform UK has said it will axe low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the councils it controls. |
Are Reform a challenge for local government reorganisation?
15/05/2025 Laura Hughes, partner at law firm Browne Jacobson, examines whether Reform UK’s local election successes will impact local government reorganisation. |
Local Elections: Managing change and good decision making
09/05/2025 Claire Ward, a partner and local government sector specialist at Anthony Collins, discusses managing change after the local elections. |
Political balance of LGA confirmed
08/05/2025 The political proportionality of the Local Government Association (LGA) following the local elections has been confirmed. |
LGA shake-up after Reform polls success
08/05/2025 Reform UK is expected to form a political group within the Local Government Association (LGA) after its landslide victory at the polls. |
Reform UK urged to take responsibilities seriously
07/05/2025 Sector leaders have called on Reform UK councillors to take their responsibilities seriously following the party's sweeping success in the local elections. |
A fairer voting system
07/05/2025 Following the local elections, Dr Jess Garland, Electoral Reform Society, argues there is no excuse not to change the electoral system. |
Are elections ripe for change?
06/05/2025 Peter Stanyon, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, sets out some recommendations for boosting turn out in local elections. |
Reform criticised after flag ban proposal
06/05/2025 Reform has sparked controversy after declaring the only flags that will be flown by councils it controls will be the Union Jack and St. George’s Cross. |
Learning from the locals
06/05/2025 Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, reflects on the results of the local elections. |
Union hits back after Farage’s ‘alternative careers’ comment
03/05/2025 A public sector union has criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage after he said council workers should seek ‘alternative careers’. |
Reform takes six councils from Tories
03/05/2025 Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has taken six councils from the Conservatives and control of Durham so far in the local elections. |
Reform gains in English local elections
02/05/2025 Labour has held onto key mayoralties even though it looks like Nigel Farage's Reform UK will make significant gains in local elections across England. |
Voters head to polls amid local government reorganisation
01/05/2025 Voters are heading to the polls in parts of England to elect thousands of councillors against the backdrop of local government reorganisation (LGR). |
Local elections in the shadow of reorganisation
28/04/2025 Dr Jonathan Carr-West of the LGIU discusses the meaning of the local elections against the backdrop of local government reorganisation (LGR). |
Majority of public ‘not following’ reorganisation
23/04/2025 Nearly two-thirds of the public are not engaged with local government reorganisation, a new poll commissioned ahead of the local elections has revealed. |
Council rejects Farage bankruptcy claim
14/04/2025 Lancashire County Council has hit back at claims by Nigel Farage that it is on the brink of bankruptcy. |
Sir Keir: We need to review voter ID rules
19/06/2024 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has suggested his party would review the policy of mandatory voter ID if elected to govern. |
General Election brings raft of reforms
23/05/2024 Elections officers face a raft of reforms to implement as voters nationwide prepare to go to the polls in July. |
Dudley councillors strike ‘unifying’ deal
16/05/2024 Political groups on Dudley Council have struck a deal which will see the Conservatives maintain control of the local authority. |
Government relents over broadening forms of voter ID
07/05/2024 Complaints were raised by ex-servicemen who were turned away at polling stations after attempting to produce veteran cards as proof of ID. |
Over 40 pro-Palestinian candidates elected
07/05/2024 Dozens of candidates who ran in last week’s local elections on a pro-Palestinian platform have been elected, according to a new analysis. |
Labour win Yorkshire mayoralty in PM’s ‘backyard’
03/05/2024 Labour’s David Skaith has won the race to become the first York and North Yorkshire mayor. |
Houchen retains Tees Valley for Tories
03/05/2024 Ben Houchen has won the Tees Valley mayoral election despite his vote share taking a dramatic hit. |
Boris Johnson turned away from polling station
03/05/2024 Former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station yesterday after forgetting to bring valid ID. |
Local Elections: Labour celebrates local gains
03/05/2024 Labour has gained 119 councillors and 288 Conservative members have lost their seats with more than two-thirds of councils declared. |
Cambridge council deploys polling boot
02/05/2024 Cambridge residents were confronted with the unexpected site of a car marked ‘polling station’ when they went out to vote this morning. |
What is a metro mayor?
25/04/2024 A metro mayor is directly elected by local people to oversee a region’s combined authority. |
LocalGov elections: Being vigilant ahead of the local elections
24/04/2024 Ahead of the local elections next month, Owen Prendeville, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), offers tips for protecting against cyber attacks. |
Poll reveals low levels of trust in councillors
23/04/2024 Just over 40% of people in England trust their local councillors to work in the best interests of people in local areas, a new survey has revealed. |
LocalGov Elections: Ones to watch in May
10/04/2024 Dr Greg Stride, Senior Researcher, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) provides a primer for the upcoming local elections. |
Voter ID legal challenge launched
19/02/2024 A legal challenge has been mounted against the Government over voter ID requirements for elections. |
Alarm sounded on cyber threat to local elections
21/12/2023 Ministers have written to councils to warn of attempted foreign interference in next year’s elections. |
Minister shrugs off election concerns
06/12/2023 Fears that pressures on elections officials will leave them overwhelmed at the next election have been dismissed by local government minister Simon Hoare. |
Plea to delay online postal vote applications
09/10/2023 Launching online applications for postal and proxy votes later this month should be ‘urgently reconsidered,’ elections officers have said. |
Sinn Fein becomes largest party of Northern Ireland local government
22/05/2023 Sinn Fein has become the largest party in Northern Ireland local government for the first time after securing 144 seats in the latest polls. |
Northern Ireland branded 'inert' as councils go to polls
18/05/2023 With Northern Ireland's local elections today the region has been branded ‘uncompetitive’ and in need of localised public services due to Stormont stalemate. |
One in 100 turned away due to voter ID
16/05/2023 One in 100 were unable to vote up after turning up at polling stations without valid ID, election observers have estimated. |
Big losses for Conservative councils
09/05/2023 The Conservatives have lost seats in the North, South and Midlands, with Labour and the Lib Dems scooping up victories. |
Results point to big losses for Conservative councils
05/05/2023 Early results from the local elections point to big losses for the Conservatives, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats scooping up victories. |
MPs raise concerns about accuracy of voter turnout data
27/04/2023 MPs have appealed for full information to be collected on the number of people turned away from local elections because they do not have the right ID. |
Tories expect to lose 1,000 seats
17/04/2023 The Conservatives are braced to lose 1,000 council seats in next month’s local elections. |
Council chiefs call for voter ID laws to be delayed
12/12/2022 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to delay the introduction of voter ID requirements until after the local elections in May. |
Concern over elections timetable
07/11/2022 Campaigners and elections staff have raised concerns over the deliverability of voter ID at next year’s elections. |
Scottish survey reveals strong commitment to local elections
01/11/2022 The vast majority of Scots believe it is important to vote in local council elections, a survey of social attitudes in Scotland has revealed. |
Workload warning over voting pilots
11/10/2022 Proposals to introduce automatic voter registration in Wales could cause confusion and add to already heavy workloads, election officers have warned. |
Conservatives lose nearly 500 seats in local elections
09/05/2022 The results are in for all 200 councils up for election, with the Conservatives losing 11 local authorities. |
Conservatives hit hard in London as poll results roll in
06/05/2022 Labour has taken control of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet LBCs, in an election night that has hit the Conservatives hard. |
Local elections could see Conservatives lose 500 seats
03/05/2022 The Conservatives look set to lose over 500 seats in the upcoming local elections, according to a recent poll. |
Winner-takes-all system ‘splits’ progressive vote
03/05/2022 The progressive vote will be systematically ‘split’ in next week’s council elections because of the winner-takes-all electoral system, campaigners say. |
Council chiefs warn of ‘increasing number’ of threats against councillors
03/05/2022 Council leaders have called for more action to be taken to ensure that councillors and candidates in local elections are not subjected to threats and abuse. |
Gender equality campaigners in Wales warn of ‘glacial’ progress
25/04/2022 Councils have been urged to increase the number of women in local politics as campaigners warn Welsh local democracy won’t see gender equality until 2050. |
Nearly 40% of electorate prioritising affordable housing in local elections
21/04/2022 Four in 10 Britons say affordable decent housing needs to be improved ahead of the local elections, a new poll reveals. |
Council tax top priority in local elections
12/04/2022 The level of council tax is the top local election priority for Londoners, a recent survey has revealed. |
Council chiefs warn of ‘public intimidation’ ahead of polls
22/03/2022 Local authority leaders have urged residents to engage in ‘positive, constructive debates’ during the build up to the local elections in May. |
Councillors complain of lack of powers
07/03/2022 More than two out of three (68%) councillors in England feel they lack sufficient powers to represent the needs of their communities, a survey today by the Electoral Reform Society campaign group has found. |
Nearly half of Scots back directly elected provosts
19/01/2022 A new poll has revealed strong support for directly elected provosts across Scotland. |
Powers warning ahead of new deals
07/12/2021 A new report today warns areas reluctant to accept directly-elected leaders in the next wave of devolution deals may be offered ‘fewer powers and flexibilities’. |
Johnson: Bring your devolution plans to me
15/07/2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for local leaders to take their devolution plans to him in a keynote speech from the West Midlands this morning. |
Mayoral votes to use ‘outdated’ system
16/03/2021 The Government plans to switch to the first-past-the-post system to elect mayors. |
Employers branded a 'disgrace' over council pay delay
26/02/2021 Council employers have been branded a ‘disgrace’ after they said they would not respond to a union pay claim until after the May 6 elections. |
May elections to go ahead as council chiefs call for indemnity
21/01/2021 Local elections will go ahead on 6 May despite the ongoing pandemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled. |
Call for ‘urgent clarity’ on elections
06/01/2021 Speculation over whether local elections will take place in May as scheduled has been labelled ‘unhelpful’ by councils. |
Proportional votes to come to Wales
19/11/2020 Proportional voting will be introduced to Welsh council elections for the first time as the franchise is extended to 16- and 17-year olds and foreigners. |
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Mayor anticipates Covid-19 election disruption
20/07/2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged voters in the capital to register for postal ballots ahead of next year’s elections to avoid disruption from the COVID-19 crisis. |
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EXCLUSIVE: 'Make local elections a "mini-referendum" on fair funding'
16/06/2020 The main parties at the Local Government Association could turn next year’s local elections into a ‘mini referendum on fair funding for all councils’, according to the director of the Political Skills Forum. |
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Government postpones council elections
13/03/2020 Local government elections due to take place on 7 May have been postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. |
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Queen's Speech 19: Voter ID requirement at elections to be rolled out
14/10/2019 The Queen’s Speech has set out the Government’s plans to require voters to show photographic ID at polling stations. |
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Voter ID plans slammed as 'undemocratic'
30/04/2019 Mandatory voter ID requirements will seriously damage democracy, the Electoral Reform Society has warned again ahead of the local elections this week. |
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Chief executive suspended after elections review
27/11/2017 Newcastle-under-Lyme BC has suspended its chief executive and monitoring officer after an independent review into problems faced by voters at the General Election. |
