Local elections 2026: What is each party offering voters?

While voters go to the polls to vote in critical local elections, political parties are fighting against each other.

Voters across the country are set to cast their ballots on May 7, with thousands of council seats up for grabs as well as the chance to vote for some local mayors and the Scottish and Welsh governments.

Local election campaigns operate differently from national general elections, with local party unions outlining their policies for the region rather than national manifestos.

So what does each side actually promise? Here, Independent It looks at what they promise to voters:

workforce

Labor braces for devastating losses in local elections; pollster Lord Robert Hayward predicted last week that the party would lose 1,850 seats.

This comes at the expense of the overwhelming majority; More than half of the seats currently in contention are held by Labour.

Launching the party’s campaign, Sir Keir Starmer promised “Labour Party values”, emphasizing his government’s measures to combat the cost of living.

Sir Keir stressed that his party understands: “Whatever happens in the world, whatever happens in politics, there’s a lot going on in both, most people are most worried about the cost of living.”

The government encouraged voters to support Labor candidates to allow the Labor majority council to work with the Labor government. But given that confidence in Sir Keir’s government is currently low, this strategy may not increase enthusiasm.

Common themes seen in a number of local Labor manifestos include thousands of new social and affordable homes and safety measures such as the promise of more community watchmen and CCTV.

In some areas the party has incorporated green measures such as planting more trees and creating low-traffic neighbourhoods, while increased opportunities for young people, such as more youth clubs or opportunities for school leavers, are also common.

In Wales, the party has pledged to invest £4bn in a “Future Hospitals Fund” to build new hospitals in Wrexham, Cardiff and west Wales, and vowed not to increase income tax rates.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, the party has also promised not to increase income tax for five years and to build 125,000 new homes.

UK Reformation

Reform England is expected to sweep a number of former Labor and Conservative seats next week after taking control of a number of councils in last year’s election.

The party’s election slogan is aimed squarely at the unpopular prime minister and tells voters: “Vote for reform. Get Starmer out.”

Asked why the slogan focused on Sir Keir rather than his Reform policy, Mr Farage said the upcoming elections were “in some of the strongest parts of the country for Labor and frankly his offer to give the country back in 2024 has been completely ignored”.

While the center party has been quite vocal on immigration, some local parties have raised the issue of fixing potholes and keeping council tax increases as low as possible as part of their promises to voters.

Others have suggested improving community safety, better litter collection and bringing the party’s money-saving Doge plan to the council to cut costs.

In Wales, Reform has vowed to end its “Land of Sanctuary” status and change the law to eliminate the use of “immigrant hotels”.

The reform also promised to “end net zero dogma” in its Senedd manifesto and proposed banning new onshore wind farms and solar farms.

In Scotland, the party outlined the government’s ‘guiding principles’, which include not spending more than tax revenue.

Green Party

Zack Polanski’s Green Party expects to make big gains in May’s elections, riding on the momentum from its historic victory in midterm elections in Gorton and Denton earlier this year.

While the party fulfilled its commitments on housing, it also gained the support of voters in international relations with its pro-Palestinian and anti-war stance.

In his speech at the launch of his party’s local election campaign, Mr. Polanski called for “strong sanctions” against Israel and “an end to genocide.”

Mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett said in Hackney, a key target area for the party: Independent Gaza, housing, disability support and migration are on the doorstep again and again.

In Tower Hamlets, the party has pledged to match the site with a Palestinian town and also introduce protections for immigrants, such as ensuring information is not shared with immigration enforcement agencies.

Calling itself the “party of tenants”, the Greens’ major pledges call for greater protections and the introduction of rent controls.

In Wales, the Greens have proposed a rent freeze for a year while a rent control system is developed, saying it would save tenants “a price increase at a time when all other bills and costs are rising”.

Although it may take longer for rent controls to be introduced in the UK, it is stated that the elected Greens will “continue to lead the campaign against Labor and the landlord lobby”.

conservatives

Launching the party’s campaign, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch stressed that the party was “fighting to win everywhere”, but the Conservative Party is also expected to face a devastating defeat at the ballot box next week.

The party has pledged to “get Britain working again” and has positioned itself as the only party in British politics with a “plan to make life better”, including the promise of changes to welfare and job rates.

Ms Badenoch highlighted policies such as the promised cut in the aid bill and her party’s “cheap energy plan”, which includes rolling back green energy rules and greater reliance on oil and gas.

The party has also pledged to abolish business rate bills under £110,000 to make it easier for pubs, restaurants and high street shops.

Local Conservative Party groups have a common focus on crime prevention; some are promising extra enforcement officers and greater use of CCTV.

The plans also include protecting green areas, making streets cleaner and improving transportation.

In Wales, the party has pledged to cut the basic income tax rate by 1p and scrap stamp duty by 1p.

The party’s manifesto in Scotland is titled “Let’s make Scotland work” and focuses on policies such as reducing income tax to 19p on £1 and guaranteeing 48-hour GP appointments.

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are set to win around 150 seats in the upcoming election, according to pollster Lord Hayward.

Leader Ed Davey, who launched the party’s campaign in Surrey, said it was focused on reducing energy bills, improving local health services and cleaning up polluted rivers.

“Providing people with the GP and dentist appointments they need, standing up to water companies dumping dirty sewage into our rivers, breathing life back into our high streets and helping people with their living costs,” he said.

“We’re not making divisions. We’re fixing potholes, police officers, GP appointments, cleaning up rivers. If you vote Liberal Democrat on May 7, you’ll get a local champion who will fix things for your community.”

Common themes in local party associations’ manifestos include cleaner streets and air, as well as support for national campaigns on social care.