Last week the 2025 local elections were held, with voters going to the polls in areas that were most recently contested four years ago.
Over 1600 seats were up for grabs across more than 20 local authorities, while six mayoral races were also contested.
The biggest winners on the day were Reform UK, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party who all made significant gains at the expense of the Conservatives and Labour Party.
Polling and election expert Sir John Curtis said the results showed that British politics is “no longer a two-party system”.
What else seems clear to me is that voters are disillusioned by what the two largest parties have to offer. While prices remain high and everything is less affordable than just a few years back, many in the country are looking for something different.
Local elections and national votes
It is notoriously difficult to translate local election results onto what may happen in a general election. But what can be done, is turn the result into what’s called the ‘Projected National Vote share’.
Doing so puts Reform UK on top (32%), meaning it is the first time either the Conservatives (18%) or Labour Party (19%) have failed to come first.
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 already been fielding questions over suggestions – and its subsequent denial – that it may cave to pressure to drop the changes to winter fuel allowance.
The results are also a sign that voters are willing to act on their disillusionment at how things are going, and their overwhelming belief that the UK is getting worse.
Key issues for voters included potholes and the state of roads, council tax, affordable housing and the quality of the local high street. All of which point to a lack of investment in some of the things that matter most to us all – our communities, our homes, our ability to get about and the cost of living.
What’s tax got to do with it?
The UK has suffered from close to two decades of underfunding of key services and short-term thinking. Successive governments have failed to prioritise what matters most to us all.
Our communities haven’t seen the investment needed to keep them thriving or the planning required to ensure housing is available and affordable. Key services we all rely on have been stripped back to the bone and are unable to deliver what people need and when they need it.
Recent years have seen bills skyrocket for things like food, energy, water and other essentials. Most people’s weekly or monthly income just isn’t enough. Too many people are struggling to keep afloat.
All the while a small number of people in the country, and big corporations, have continued to increase their fortunes and boost their profits, paid for by the rest of us.
It is no wonder voters are turning to other parties than the ‘big two’ for answers.
We think the solution to many of the biggest challenges the country faces is 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 – to make them pay a little bit more – can ensure that there is plenty of money to invest in our communities.
It can ensure people have affordable housing and access to quality healthcare when they need it.
The multi-billion pound answer
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.
Our Head of Advocacy and Policy, Caitlin, recently sat down with BylineTV to make the case for taxing wealth more. You can watch the interview here.
Reforming the tax system is not only the smart choice, it is also the popular choice. Polling regularly shows increasing taxes on the wealthiest sits well with voters, particularly if it were to be invested in public services.
To make this a reality, we know that we have to keep making the case for taxing wealth whether that be in Parliament, in the newspapers, or when talking to other people like you and I.
I am hopeful that our communities can flourish, that we can see a doctor when we need one, and that the country will get on the right track. I know things can get better with the right solutions in place.
We’re campaigning to make things better. Many of you are already taking action to tax the super rich more. You still have an opportunity to write to your MP and ask them to tax wealth instead of cutting social security by clicking here.