A council with no overall control isn’t the same as one with proportional representationMay’s English local elections ended one-party dominance in over 30 councils, with 64 of the 136 councils now under no overall control. But a council under no overall control elected by First Past the Post,...Posted 03 Jun 2026
Voters in English local elections deserve better than First Past the PostThe votes from last week’s local council elections across England have now been counted, and one thing is clear: First Past the Post is yet again failing to reflect voters’ views on who should run...Posted 12 May 2026
Why we need to change the way we elect our councillors in England and WalesDiscussions around changing the voting system often refer to Westminster, yet the same problems that stifle the government of the UK apply at a much more local level. Just like in Parliament, councils across England...Posted 28 Apr 2026
Why independent candidates win with the Single Transferable VoteCurrently, there are 14 independent MPs in the House of Commons, which might seem to suggest Independent candidates can win under First-Past-The-Post (FPTP). But these MPs are only independent because they were suspended from their...Posted 01 Nov 2023
With just weeks to go awareness of voter ID remains worryingly lowWith less than six weeks to May’s local elections, the problems with the government’s rollout of their disastrous rollout of voter ID are clearer than ever. As we race towards polling day concerns about the...Posted 28 Mar 2023
There are big reasons some people won’t vote this May – and it’s not just CovidWhen one party takes all – on a fraction of the vote – people understandably feel alienated and voiceless, and new research appears to back this up.Posted 19 Mar 2021
Wales’ planning for the May elections is a welcome contrast to WestminsterKey decisions on May's elections in Wales will be driven by consensus and cooperation, rather than ministerial diktat.Posted 15 Feb 2021
Finally, some clarity on England’s local electionsUK ministers have finally confirmed that local elections in England will go ahead on the 6th of May, after being delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic. Here's what we know.Posted 05 Feb 2021
Local Elections: Diverse voices are being drowned out by the undemocratic voting system in England and WalesWe are now but two weeks from the 2018 local elections. If you live in London you will have the chance to elect councillors for the first time since 2014. If you reside in the...Posted 19 Apr 2018
Seven things you need to know about the local electionsBlink and you’ll miss the coverage, but local elections are happening on Thursday 3 May in England. A lot has changed since these seats were last contested, in 2014. We had the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government,...Posted 16 Apr 2018