Delivering Regeneration: How collaborative contracts are transforming place-making
Discover how collaborative contracting is helping councils deliver regeneration more effectively with this free special report from LocalGov and NEC Contracts.
Cllr Eamonn O'Brien nominated as next LGA chair
6/9/2026 Cllr Eamonn O'Brien has been nominated to become the next chair of the Local Government Association (LGA), following the conclusion of internal elections. |
Lib Dems and Greens form new Birmingham City Council coalition
6/8/2026 Birmingham City Council has a new political administration after a Lib Dem and Green-led coalition was agreed at the council's AGM. |
Almost one in three voters saw ‘deepfake’ AI content of candidates ahead of local elections
6/1/2026 A survey has found that 30% of voters saw a deepfake or AI-generated video, audio, clip or image about an election candidate or politician online in the run up to this May’s local council elections. |
Conservatives regain Redditch council in deal with Reform UK
5/27/2026 Conservatives have returned to power at Redditch Borough Council after striking a confidence and supply agreement with Reform UK. |
Suspended Tory councillor considers legal action over ‘defamatory’ remarks
5/26/2026 The deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council is considering legal action against the Conservative Party chairman after being suspended from the party. |
Five arrested over alleged fake candidate plot in Tameside
5/22/2026 Five people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud following allegations of electoral fraud in last month's local elections in Tameside. |
Rainbow coalitions form as more councils fall under NOC
5/20/2026 Attempts are being made to form rainbow coalitions around the country after more councils ended up in no overall control following the elections. |
Reform UK council hit by trebling of councillor conduct complaints
5/18/2026 Peers have raised concerns about the impact of increasing reports of negative member behaviour on staff morale and retention at a Reform UK-led council. |
Reform UK to nominate new CCN chair
5/18/2026 The County Councils Network (CCN) has announced that the Reform UK Group is to nominate the new chair of the network. |
New Councils, Old Lessons: What the class of 2026 needs to know
5/15/2026 Colin Copus of De Montfort University reflects on the challenges ahead for new members, officers and the councils they must now run together. |
After the Votes: Why HR and OD are crucial to delivering new political mandates
5/15/2026 PPMA President Sandra Farquharson argues that HR and OD professionals have a pivotal role to play in turning new administrations' promises into outcomes. |
Labour retains position as largest group on LGA
5/14/2026 The LGA has published its updated political proportionality following the local elections, with Labour retaining its position as the largest group. |
Reform UK unlikely to enter 'formal coalitions' on councils
5/14/2026 Reform UK is unlikely to join ‘formal coalitions' to run councils, a leading party figure has told The MJ. |
CCN launches new business plan following local elections
5/14/2026 The CCN has launched a new business plan, pledging to do more for member councils as new administrations take shape following last week's local elections. |
'We survived the election': The wellbeing crisis facing electoral services teams
5/13/2026 LocalGov speaks to the Association of Electoral Administrators about the human cost of delivering elections and whether it is sustainable. |
Reform urged to expel a dozen new councillors over extremist views
5/13/2026 Campaigners have called on Reform UK to kick out 12 newly elected councillors for racism – including antisemitism and Islamophobia – and praising the Nazis. |
Devo minister resigns
5/12/2026 Junior devolution minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has resigned and urged PM Keir Starmer to ‘do the right thing' and ‘set a timetable for an orderly transition'. |
Reform councillor believed to have stood down following allegations
5/11/2026 A Reform UK councillor is believed to have already resigned following his election last Thursday. |
Voting system producing 'wildly unrepresentative' results, campaigners say
5/11/2026 Last week’s council elections have thrown the distortions of the First Past the Post voting system into sharp relief, the Electoral Reform Society argue. |
New Councillors, Same Pressures: IFS warns councils face unchanged funding challenges
5/11/2026 New councillors elected last week inherits a local government finance picture that is deeply constrained – and unlikely to improve quickly, IFS warns. |
Newly elected councillors urged to prioritise adult social care
5/11/2026 Care England has called on councillors elected in last week's local elections to make adult social care a top priority. |
Votes disqualified in Oldham after ballot paper error
5/8/2026 At least 15 local election votes have been disqualified in Oldham after a council printing error saw the wrong candidates listed on ballot papers. |
Former Big Brother star wins council seat for Reform
5/8/2026 A former Big Brother housemate has been elected to a council seat in east London as Reform UK swept to a landslide victory in the borough of Havering. |
Your guide to making good decisions as a new councillor
5/8/2026 With new councillors taking their seats following the local elections, the LGA's guidance on effective decision-making offers a framework for getting it right. |
Local Elections 2026: Results show Reform surge and Labour losses
5/8/2026 The 2026 local elections have delivered a seismic shift in English local government — confirming a dramatic surge for Reform UK and the Greens. |
West Midlands Mayor threatened while canvassing in Coventry
5/7/2026 The Mayor of the West Midlands has described being threatened and followed by a member of the public while out canvassing in Coventry. |
All change: Reform UK projected to make huge gains as local elections get underway
5/7/2026 The chairs of three of the sector's major associations could change hands in the aftermath of today's local elections. |
Local Elections: What voters really want from their councils
5/6/2026 With voters heading to the polls tomorrow, a recent YouGov survey reveals what local issues matter most — and the answers are not always what you might expect. |
Reform UK expels three candidates after BNP links uncovered
4/27/2026 Reform UK has expelled three of its local election candidates after a joint investigation revealed their historical links to the fascist BNP. |
Greens unveil three-point plan to save high streets
4/23/2026 The Green Party has announced a new policy platform aimed at reviving high streets, including using council powers to bring empty shops back into public use. |
Fighting the Fakes: The battle against AI disinformation
4/17/2026 The Electoral Commission has launched a deepfake detection pilot ahead of May's elections. LocalGov's editor William Eichler finds out how it works. |
Reform defends £700m council savings claim
4/16/2026 A senior Reform UK figure has defended the party's claim it has found £700m of savings at the councils it controls. |
Electoral Commission launches deepfake detection pilot ahead of May elections
4/16/2026 The Electoral Commission has launched a pilot scheme to detect and counter political deepfakes ahead of elections in England, Scotland and Wales on 7 May. |
Bury Council election cancelled following candidate's death
4/16/2026 A local election in Bury has been cancelled after the death of one of the candidates standing in the Moorside ward. |
Staying Safe in Local Elections: Challenges and support for candidates
4/14/2026 With local elections nearing, rising abuse fears are deterring candidates - this analysis explores risks, definitions, and new guidance to support safer campaigning. |
LocalGov Round-Up: LGR, Finance and Local Elections
4/10/2026 This week councils faced questions over reorganisation, concerns over the finances of the social care sector and a reminder of electoral fraud risks. |
Greens target Labour in local election campaign launch
4/9/2026 The Green Party has launched its 2026 local elections campaign with a focus on tackling the housing crisis. |
Campaign launches to protect integrity of local elections
4/9/2026 Voters are being urged to safeguard their ballots as the Electoral Commission launches its annual anti-fraud campaign ahead of the May local elections. |
Councils apologise for poll card ‘confusion’
4/7/2026 Braintree DC and Essex CC have issued a joint apology after poll cards sent to voters across the district named the wrong council. |
Badenoch launches £112.5m pothole plan
4/2/2026 The Conservatives have proposed a £112.5m plan to fix the country’s pothole-ridden road network, which includes providing road-repair machines to councils. |
Chief executive defends by-election integrity
3/30/2026 Manchester City Council chief executive Tom Stannard has defended the ‘integrity' of last month's by-election after police found no evidence of illegality. |
Commission demands end to candidate abuse ahead of May polls
3/30/2026 Electoral Commission has issued a plea for respectful debate in the run up to the local elections in May following ‘unacceptable’ levels of intimidation. |
Government to 'look again' at election postponement powers
2/27/2026 The Government will ‘look again’ at the secretary of state’s powers after peers launched an attempt to rein in ministerial control over cancelling elections. |
Government U-turns on elections delays
2/16/2026 The Government has withdrawn its decision to postpone local elections in 30 areas. |
Picture remains unclear over local elections delays
1/21/2026 Uncertainty hangs over attempts to delay local elections in almost 30 councils amid a legal challenge by Reform UK. |
Councils defy party lines on election delays
1/15/2026 Council leaders have strayed from party lines over proposals to delay local elections. |
Shifting local elections could save £200k, council argues
11/18/2025 Due to local government reorganisation plans, leaders of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Hyndburn Borough Council are pushing for the local elections next year to be postponed. |
Welsh Government launches consultation on local election rules
10/28/2025 The Welsh Government has opened a 12-week consultation on proposals to modernise local election rules ahead of the 2027 polls. |
Reform candidate takes legal action after losing dead heat election
7/22/2025 Reform UK candidate Liz Williams has filed a petition to the High Court claiming her loss in May's dead heat election in Worcestershire County Council’s Littletons division was fraudulent. |
Election strategy sees voting age lowered by two years
7/18/2025 The Government has announced plans to allow 16-and 17-year-olds the right to vote in both local and general elections. |
Reform council leader resigns leaving teenager in charge
6/26/2025 A Reform UK councillor has stepped down from his role as Warwickshire County Council leader due to health challenges, leaving 18-year-old deputy in charge. |
Union gains influx of members from Reform-run councils
6/20/2025 Membership rates for Unison trade union have increased by 205% across Reform-run councils. |
Reform UK: What Britain’s fastest rising party stands for
5/29/2025 Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is gaining greater political influence and visibility in local government. But what does the party stand for? |
Reform UK renames Durham council departments
5/22/2025 Reform UK has renamed several key positions and departments in Durham County Council to remove references to climate change, equality and inclusion. |
Reform vows ‘large-scale reversal’ of LTNs
5/19/2025 Reform UK has said it will axe low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the councils it controls. |
Are Reform a challenge for local government reorganisation?
5/15/2025 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
5/9/2025 Claire Ward, a partner and local government sector specialist at Anthony Collins, discusses managing change after the local elections. |
Political balance of LGA confirmed
5/8/2025 The political proportionality of the Local Government Association (LGA) following the local elections has been confirmed. |
LGA shake-up after Reform polls success
5/8/2025 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
5/7/2025 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
5/7/2025 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?
5/6/2025 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
5/6/2025 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
5/6/2025 Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, reflects on the results of the local elections. |
Union hits back after Farage’s ‘alternative careers’ comment
5/3/2025 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
5/3/2025 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
5/2/2025 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
5/1/2025 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
4/28/2025 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
4/23/2025 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
4/14/2025 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
6/19/2024 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
5/23/2024 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
5/16/2024 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
5/7/2024 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
5/7/2024 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’
5/3/2024 Labour’s David Skaith has won the race to become the first York and North Yorkshire mayor. |
Houchen retains Tees Valley for Tories
5/3/2024 Ben Houchen has won the Tees Valley mayoral election despite his vote share taking a dramatic hit. |
Boris Johnson turned away from polling station
5/3/2024 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
5/3/2024 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
5/2/2024 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?
4/25/2024 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
4/24/2024 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
4/23/2024 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
4/10/2024 Dr Greg Stride, Senior Researcher, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) provides a primer for the upcoming local elections. |
Voter ID legal challenge launched
2/19/2024 A legal challenge has been mounted against the Government over voter ID requirements for elections. |
Alarm sounded on cyber threat to local elections
12/21/2023 Ministers have written to councils to warn of attempted foreign interference in next year’s elections. |
Minister shrugs off election concerns
12/6/2023 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
10/9/2023 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
5/22/2023 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
5/18/2023 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
5/16/2023 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
5/9/2023 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
5/5/2023 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
4/27/2023 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
4/17/2023 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
11/7/2022 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
11/1/2022 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
10/11/2022 Proposals to introduce automatic voter registration in Wales could cause confusion and add to already heavy workloads, election officers have warned. |
