2023 local election results

The results of the 2023 Local Elections are still coming in. Obviously these have not been good results for the Conservatives. 

  • It is deeply disappointing to lose hardworking Conservative councillors who have been so committed to delivering for their local community. 
  • We knew this would be a tough night for the Conservatives – the government of the day is always highly likely to lose seats.
  • Voters want us to deliver for them. We remain focused on the immediate issues facing households, which is why we have a plan to deliver on our five priorities to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats. 

Local councils have a lot of important responsibilities and local councillors and candidates of all parties and none deserve, in my humble opinion, to be thanked for putting their heads above the parapet and offering the electorate a choice of people to run these important local services.

Obviously voters have every right to cast their ballots according to what issues are most important to them but I find it deeply depressing every time some journalist goes on TV and effectively encourages people to think of these elections as a test of the government's popularity rather than primarily a choice about who should run local services.

And I still think that in periods - it does happen from time to time - when the Conservatives are riding high in national polls. 

I won't ever identify the individuals concerned because I might then be quoted in a way which could be used unfairly against a Conservative colleague who I would effectively be stabbing in the back, but there have been times when I thought a hard working and competent Labour or Lib/Dem councillor, who lost their seat because the national Labour party or the national Lib/Dems had screwed up, deserved better reward for their years of service to the local community.

I have often thought - and it's only half a joke - that in local elections we should have one set of boxes in which voters can grade the performance of the national government from one to ten, and count and publish it to give the Westminster  bubble and political journalists their national test, and then beneath that the words

"Now you've got that off your chest, which of the following do you think would make the best councillor for your area?" 

followed by boxes to make the cross to support and elect particular local candidates.

It's clear, however, that some people do vote based on local issues. The swings and results are not uniform over the country, and nor should they be. 

Labour and the Lib/Dems have done well overall, and the Conservatives have not had a good 24 hours, but there are plenty of examples of successes and failures for all three parties popping up in my Twitter feed: there have been some good Conservative wins and gains, if not as many as I would like, and some bad Labour and Lib/Dem results.

And it is a good thing in my book that there are local differences - it means some people are paying attention to local issues, and they are wise to do so.

Congratulations to everyone elected yesterday, especially but not only my fellow Conservatives.

Commiserations to everyone who lost - and you should be proud of having offered to work for your community. 

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