Disengaged voters
The final by-elections of 2024 only served to emphasise what we have been pointing out for months – that the electorate appears both volatile and disengaged.
The final by-elections of 2024 only served to emphasise what we have been pointing out for months – that the electorate appears both volatile and disengaged.
Let me take the opportunity in this first first magazine of 2025 to wish all LGA member councils a very happy new year.
Thirteen by-elections followed the resignation of Labour councillors after being voted into Parliament, with a net loss of nine seats.
Following a general election, especially one as dramatic as 4 July’s, council by-elections can provide evidence about voters in the new political environment.
The 2 May local elections saw the Conservatives hit their lowest number of councillors and councils controlled for a quarter of a century.
Astonishingly, by the time you read this, we will already be half-way through the general election campaign.
There is usually a sparsity of local by-elections in the weeks before the annual May contests, and 2024 is no exception.
On 2 May, 107 councils across England go to the polls, with more than 2,600 seats at stake.
The LGA has joined forces with the Electoral Commission and the Jo Cox Foundation to call for no abuse towards candidates at the 2 May local elections.