The 2025 local elections saw Reform UK, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party win over 1600 seats across over 20 local authorities and six mayoral races. The results showed that British politics is no longer a two-party system, with voters disillusioned by the two largest parties’ offerings. As prices remain high and everything is less affordable than just a few years back, many in the country are looking for something different.
The surge of Reform UK at the local level, alongside the Liberal Democrats and Greens, is already having an effect on the political discussion. The Government has been fielding questions over suggestions and its subsequent denial – that it may cave to pressure to drop the changes to winter fuel allowance.
Key issues for voters included potholes and the state of roads, council tax, affordable housing, and the quality of the local high street. These points to a lack of investment in some of the things that matter most to us all – our communities, homes, ability to get about, and the cost of living.
Tax has been a key issue in the UK for nearly two decades, with successive governments failing to prioritize what matters most to us all. Communities have not seen the investment needed to keep them thriving or the planning required to ensure housing is available and affordable. Key services have been stripped back to the bone, and recent years have seen bills skyrocket for essentials like food, energy, and water.
Voters are turning to other parties than the ‘big two’ for answers. To retool the tax system to work for everyone, rather than to benefit the rich and powerful, changing how the very richest people and corporations in the country are taxed can ensure there is plenty of money to invest in communities, affordable housing, and access to quality healthcare when they need it. Taxing the super-rich and wealthy corporations could raise tens of billions of pounds to invest in making the UK a fairer and better place to live for everyone.
REFORM SURGES IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
