State of the locals 2026 Wed, 15 Apr

Local elections are local decisions. They elect the councillors who ultimately make many of the most consequential decisions for local people: planning, transport, adult and children’s social care, parks, arts and leisure. These are not trivial or unimportant, they are what makes a place worth living in.

The remarkable rise of independent candidates, local associations, and the unusual party dynamics that make local elections so interesting are all evidence of how local people don’t always follow national trends.

To help you make sense of the upcoming local elections, the LGIU and Ipsos are hosting a virtual panel discussion. The panel will bring together political and local government experts to share their predictions and insights on the contests to watch, public attitudes to local democracy, and the future of local democracy in the UK. The discussion will also reflect on new and exclusive polling by Ipsos/LGIU to examine why this year’s elections really matter.

Key areas for exploration

Join our speakers, as they explore the key issues and provide valuable insights and tips for stakeholders from across the local government sector and beyond with an interest in the 2026 local elections and wider local democracy issues.

State of the Locals is your one-stop-shop for local elections resources, and this panel discussion is a must-attend event for anyone looking to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in local politics.

Who should attend 

Stakeholders from across the local government sector and beyond with an interest in this year’s local elections and wider local democracy issues.

Speakers

	Dr Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU Dr Jonathan Carr-West has been Chief Executive of LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) since February 2013 where he leads on all aspects of the think tank’s policy, membership and influencing work.
	Keiran Pedley, Research Director, Public Affairs, UK, Ipsos Keiran is an expert on elections, political polling and public opinion research and leads on several aspects of Ipsos’s political research and commentary. With more than 16 years experience in the research industry, Keiran specialises in providing data driven insights to clients across a range of disciplines and sectors.
	Dr Hannah Bunting, University of Exeter  Dr Hannah Bunting is Senior Lecturer in Quantitative British Politics at the Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2). Hannah's expertise spans electoral politics, party competition, voting behaviour and political trust.
	Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive, Association of Electoral Administrators Peter has been AEA Chief Executive since 2018, supporting electoral administrators across the UK. Prior to joining the AEA in 2016, he worked for two London Boroughs and two district councils. He was also seconded to the Electoral Commission on two separate occasions to advise on guidance and law.