England's Elections in 2021

Throughout 2021 there have already been several local council elections held in England. Many of these have been high-profile cases and some results have surprised the parties and political commentators. Overall, the Conservative Party has made gains in these elections, with an increase of 235 councillors and 13 councils. Along with council elections, there have been some important by-elections taking place across the country. Below are some of the high-profile elections which have revealed changing attitudes to the political parties in the UK.

Chesham and Amersham By-Election

The results of this election were historic; the Conservative Party lost its seat for the first time in this constituency. The Liberal Democrats turned the once-safe Conservative seat to win a definite victory in the Conservative ‘Blue Wall’ - a collection of safe, predictable parliamentary seats in the south of England.

There were some environmental concerns amongst residents of Chesham and Amersham which influenced their votes. Firstly, the plans for HS2, a new high-speed railway line, would cut through the constituency. This project has been controversial for years due to the adverse impact it would have on the environment and local biodiversity. One local resident stated that ‘We don’t want HS2’ and believes that the Liberal Democrat candidate, Sarah Green, is ‘going to make a difference and push for the things that we want.’ This shows a disenfranchisement from the Conservative Party amongst voters in the area, who want someone new to represent them.

Moreover, there were concerns about Conservative-backed changes to local planning projects which included the building of more affordable housing. Some local residents were opposed to the idea, fearing that an increase in developer-built housing could ruin the natural landscape.

Source: The Guardian

Hartlepool By-Election

This election resulted in an historic victory for the Conservative Party, as their candidate, Jill Mortimer, won by nearly 7000 votes. This constituency has been traditionally in support of the Labour Party, voting for the party consistently since 1974 until 2021.

Prime Minister Johnson, of the Conservative Party, described the results as a public ‘mandate’ for the Conservatives to continue ‘focusing on their needs and priorities, coming through the pandemic.’

As with other local elections, the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme may have given the government party a boost in public support, encouraging more votes. Additionally, Labour chose to field a Remain candidate in an area which had strongly supported Brexit. This would have contributed to the loss of votes, as residents may feel disconnected from the Labour candidate.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ with the Hartlepool result. This by-election will have cast doubt on Starmer’s effectiveness, adding to the already divided opinion about his leadership of the party.

What Do These Elections Mean For The UK?

These elections show the ever-changing nature of politics at the local level - areas which may be loyal to one party may change if another candidate resonates with them more. Traditionally Conservative or Labour constituencies can be taken by other parties, especially in light of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst these changes can be seen across the country, these may not translate to shifts in the next general election in the UK. Local elections can often result in support for one party, whilst general elections can favour others. It is therefore important to keep in mind that although these changes are significant on a local level, there may be more changes yet to come in future elections.

What You Can Do

• Vote! Voting is such an important way to make a contribution to local politics and make sure your voice is heard

• Get in touch with your local representatives, whether remaining or new due to the elections, and let them know what you think on key local issues

Sources

BBC (2021) ‘Chesham and Amersham by-election: Constituents react to result’ Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-57524463

The Conversation (2021) ‘Six reasons why the Tories lost the Chesham and Amersham byelection’ Available at: https://theconversation.com/six-reasons-why-the-tories-lost-the-chesham-and-amersham-byelection-163030

BBC (2021) ‘Elections 2021: Conservatives hail historic Labour defeat in Hartlepool by-election’ Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57019456

The Guardian (2021) ‘Labour crashes to humiliating byelection defeat in Hartlepool’ Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/07/hartlepool-byelection-result-labour-starmer-conservatives

Politico (2021) ‘UK Labour suffers historic defeat in Hartlepool’ Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-labour-party-suffers-historic-defeat-in-hartlepool/