Media contact: Jen Pufky
Telephone: 07825 617 927
Email: jen.pufky@lgiu.org
DON’T FORGET THE LOCALS SAY LGIU / CCN
Political parties need to mobilise for local communities on May 4th
The Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has today called on all political parties to use the next week to campaign on local issues ahead of the local elections next Thursday. With 35 councils in England, 32 councils in Scotland and 22 councils in Wales up for election on 4 May along with 8 Mayoralties in England, the LGiU has teamed up with the County Councils Network (CCN) on the Out for the Count campaign to promote the importance of County Elections and the local services provided by these authorities. Counties represent the single biggest grouping of councils in the country, covering 86% of England’s landmass and 47% of residents, delivering the majority of local services.
Out for the Count will also provide live local election results coverage and analysis with insights into what’s happening on the ground and what it means for the country as a whole. Over the past six years, the LGiU has been telling the story of what’s happening in the locals by crowdsourcing data provided by count correspondents (volunteers from local government and the wider community) from across the UK. On the night of the elections we drill down the results, shared as open data.
Our in-depth report, Out for the Count – a Guide to the Local Elections, looks at the ones to watch and the big issues facing local government at the moment.
We have also, today, published our step by step guide to the expected local elections results timings for the night and days to follow.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGiU said:
“Political parties form a large majority of council groups across the country. As such many will be in full battle mode for the General Election in June. However, they also need to remember that local electorates in our county areas and in the combined authorities are voting on local issues and local records.
These records should not be forgotten in the fog of a General Election campaign which is about placing bums on green benches in the House of Commons. This is about real, community democracy in which local political parties produce clear and innovative solutions for their communities.”
Simon Edwards, Director, CCN said:
“County authorities are responsible for £30bn a year spent on essential public services – from social care and children’s services to roads, schools and investment in vital local infrastructure. Our historic counties are not only important but part of our national identity: that’s why it is essential that the 25 million people who live in counties go out and cast their vote in May.”
ENDS
