Event

UKICE Lunch Hour: Unpacking the local elections 2026

This event hosted by UK think tank the UK in a Changing Europe unpacks the local election results.

On Thursday 7 May, the UK will hold a number of local, mayoral and devolved parliament elections. With Labour and the Conservatives expected to suffer heavy losses to the Greens, Reform UK and nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales, what is at stake?

How will the Greens and Reform UK perform across the UK? Will the Liberal Democrats be able to capitalise on their traditional strength in local government? What will nationalist gains in Wales and Scotland mean for devolved politics? And with the elections seen as a major political test for Keir Starmer’s leadership, will he see a challenge from within the Labour party?

To dissect the details of the results, UK in a Changing Europe is bringing together some of its expert pollsters. Join us online as they analyse what the local election results mean for both the UK and its politics.

Speakers

Anand Menon – UK in a Changing Europe (Chair)

Hannah Bunting – Univerity of Exeter

Michael Thrasher – University of Plymouth

Rob Ford – University of Manchester