Local elections
Regeneration must get on its bike
Jonathan Werran sets out what is needed during the next political cycle if regeneration is to be successful, including a return to regional spatial planning.
Where’s the trust?
LGIU research sheds light on the ever greater decline of public trust in government. Dr Jonathan Carr-West looks at the possible solution.
After the election, beware of needless reshuffles
Heather Jameson says senior council officers now face a new challenge: 'turning towards new, energised political leaderships with a new set of priorities. Is this invigorating, or exhausting?'
Government relents over broadening forms of voter ID
Complaints were raised by ex-servicemen who were turned away at polling stations after attempting to produce veteran cards as proof of ID.
Sunak faces his countdown
Duncan Flynn says the clock is ticking very loudly for Rishi Sunak and he’s struggling to find the words needed to connect with a sceptical electorate.
Can mayoral polls help Tories buck their losing trend?
Jonathan Werran picks out the highlights from the local and mayoral poll results so far, and he argues the case for a more stable set of electoral cycles.
UPDATED: Tories hold Tees Valley despite heavy losses
Ben Houchen retaining the Tees Valley mayoralty for the Conservatives proved to be the party's only glimmer of hope among a bleak set of local election results.
districtview
Perhaps the sector would benefit from clear KPIs for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, including about when it will reform the local government finance system, says Ian Miller.
The NHS is the top concern for voters
What the latest IPSOS data shows is that the mayoral model can work in terms of public recognition – even if real power remains firmly rooted in Westminster, according to Ben Page.
Local elections: more than just a barometer for Rishi
Local elections do swing with national politics, but the full picture is far more nuanced, says Heather Jameson. 'More so now, as a gaping chasm opens up between the performance of the best and worst local authorities and mayors.'
What will the next steps be for the mayoral model?
While the offers to communities from mayors are maturing, there remain big questions to be answered by whichever party forms the next Government, says Zoë Billingham.
Labour’s local vision for growth
Adam Fineberg says Labour’s new localist Industrial Strategy is a manifesto aimed at reaping the benefits of more widely distributed growth across the country.
Battle lines drawn for local elections
Rows over levelling up have dominated the opening clashes as campaigning kicked off for next month’s local elections.
Council chiefs receive cyber espionage warnings
Council chiefs have been warned their email accounts, phones and computers will ‘almost certainly’ be targets for ‘cyber espionage operations’ before local and national elections.
Pre-elections: steering a path through comms
Andy Allsopp looks at the need for careful judgement from council communicators during the pre-election period, and sets out three key takeaways from the Local Authority Publicity Code.
Elections show the organisation at its ‘one council’ best
Kathy O' Leary says: 'As both pollsters and returning officers would agree, success in elections is talking only about the result and not the process.'
EXCLUSIVE: No pay offer until after local elections
Local government employers will not make a pay offer until after the upcoming local elections in May, The MJ understands.
The new mayors will need the support of Westminster to be successful
'We need to give more attention to the powers and resources mayors have, and those they need – notably more control over fiscal matters – to do the job the country needs them to do', says Andrew Carter.
T’is the season!
The possibility of a UK Parliamentary General Election on 2 May combined with local polls is the plan causing most concern in the electoral sector, says Peter Stanyon.
Voter ID legal challenge launched
A legal challenge has been mounted against the Government over voter ID requirements for elections.
