Boris Johnson has said the Conservatives took “tough” losses in the local elections, as Labour won key London seats and the Lib Dems and Greens made gains. Results in Scotland and Wales have started to come in and in Northern Ireland the results are expected from mid-afternoon. Here five people in England share their reaction to the results so far and speak about the factors that decided their vote. ‘The new Green candidate is active and visible’
This time I voted Green locally, although I usually vote Labour. I feel the world’s problems are so beyond my control and this government infuriates me every day, so I decided to think very locally. The Greens have been quite active in my ward, Central St Leonards. They’ve organised street cleaning parties and community events and are just involved in a way that I haven’t picked up from the Labour party for a long time. They have been cruising along, I think. It’s been the same people in control for years. Meanwhile, the Greens were knocking on doors and introducing themselves. I know it’s either Labour or Tories nationally, so I usually vote Labour at general elections to try and keep the Tories out. But I’m an environmentalist and the new Green candidate is active and visible. He’s woken people up and even if he doesn’t win it may shake up the Labour party locally. Sally Walton, 70, artist and radio DJ, St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings – not yet declared) ‘I will never vote Tory again’
I live in Westminster and used to vote Tory until about 10 years ago when I felt they were failing to control capitalism and take global warming seriously. I loathe the whole party now and am absolutely appalled by their behaviour and aggression. It’s horrific. There’s so much to complain about – the corruption, lies and cronyism. Even Brexit was a huge nail in the coffin. I voted Labour during the local election this year in what was both a protest vote but also because I like [Keir] Starmer. He’s not charismatic and he’s low-profile but I like that and I believe the Labour party is righting the ship of state. I’m delighted that Westminster is now Labour – I will never vote Tory again. Alaric, retired scientist, London (Westminster council – Con to Lab) ‘I like our local Tory councillor but I voted for the Lib Dem candidate’
I voted on local issues and to record dissatisfaction with the current government. Our local councillor is a Tory. He has been very effective and responsive to local people. However, I voted for the Lib Dem candidate since I could not bring myself to register a vote for Boris Johnson’s government. Although the Lib Dem position on local housing development is not as strong as the Tory one, they represent the most palatable policies. I find myself getting more engaged in politics as I get older. I am pleased that the Tories have lost control in a number of areas, and more so that the party seems to now be acknowledging the problem they have at the top. How the government has stayed together this long is completely beyond me – if ministers had any integrity, they would have resigned en masse long ago. David Woodhead, 65, management consultant, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire (Hart – no overall control, hold) ‘I would love to see a more ambitious Labour party’
This is my first time voting in Wandsworth as I just moved, so I was definitely influenced by national politics more than local. Climate change is always the priority for me and I don’t think the Conservatives are acting to safeguard our future. I would love to see a more ambitious Labour party who is more in touch with the issues the public care about. I think it’s important that Keir Starmer takes a stronger stance on issues so that people can see what he stands for. I’ll always vote Labour over Conservative, but I find he’s a bit of a flip-flopper. Climate change is a priority for me and it’s important that we see strong implementation on net zero pledges. To be honest, neither party is all that convincing. I voted Labour this year. I flit between them and the Greens, but this time my reasoning was purely strategic. I wanted to see the Conservatives out. Annabel Rice, 24, works in climate change policy for a city network, London (Wandsworth – Con to Lab) ‘I’ve disregarded my national inclinations and voted Tory’
I want a councillor who lives here and canvases local opinion and then takes up the issues until they are solved. So my vote went to someone who represents my least loved party, the Conservatives, but who has an excellent track record locally. The candidate is actively looking at traffic issues, parks and green space areas, as well as allotments in her ward. The Labour party present a new candidate for every election, local or national, whom we have never heard of and promises a (vague) new future, whereas the Tory incumbent MP has a great agent who gets him mentioned in every issue of the local paper doing “good works”. So who do we think of at the ballot box? No wonder we are a safe seat. I’ve disregarded my national inclinations (Labour) and voted local (Tory). Same old, same old. Nigel Garwell, 71, retired driving instructor, Brownsover, Rugby (Rugby – Con hold)