Conservative representation has hit a historic low in the areas that voted in Thursday’s local elections, according to a recent analysis by The Guardian. The Tories now only control 19% of seats in the 98 council areas that had announced results by 20:40 on May 3rd, marking their lowest level since Tony Blair’s Labour government came into power in the late 1990s.
On the other hand, Labour has seen significant gains in key target areas such as Nuneaton, but has fallen short of its previous performance in some regions. Independent candidates, many campaigning on the war in Gaza, have pulled off shock victories in traditional heartlands like Oldham.
Labour now controls 48% of seats in the 98 councils that had declared results by 20:40, its highest level in these areas since 2018. The party had controlled 62% of councillors in these regions back in 1997, the year of Blair’s landslide victory.
Despite the Conservative collapse, Labour is still lagging behind its 1997 performance in some areas as independents and third parties gain more seats. However, Labour gains in places like Nuneaton, Hartlepool, Rushmoor, and North East Lincolnshire are giving Keir Starmer confidence that his party is on track to win back the key seats needed to form the next UK government.
The recent local elections have shown that Labour gained control of eight councils, four of which swung directly from the Conservatives. This trend, coupled with the significant losses suffered by the Tories in crucial areas, indicates that Starmer’s party may be on course for victory in the upcoming general election.
Overall, these results highlight a shifting political landscape in the UK, with both major parties experiencing highs and lows in different regions. As the country looks towards the future, the outcome of these local elections could have significant implications for the national political scene.