Future Local Lab
Local Government Explained
Local Elections England: 2026Why should we care about local government? Five reasons the sector matters
Dr Ben Worthy, Birkbeck, University of London
This article from Dr Ben Worthy emphasises the significance of local government in managing public funds, influencing essential services, driving policy innovation, and promoting diverse political representation. It challenges common perceptions of the sector and underscores its increasing importance in addressing societal issues and shaping future policy.
Voters’ view of local government was once famously summed up as being about ‘seeing politicians they don’t quite trust, doing things they don’t understand, and getting a direct bill for it’.
The quote hints at the fundamental paradox of local government: that local government is vital but ignored, boring but fundamental. When asked in 2022 53 % of voters confessed to knowing ‘very little’ about local government and I’m not convinced that the 44% who claimed they did know “a great deal” or “a fair amount” about ‘their local councillors, or about how decisions were taken in their local council’ were telling the truth (I’m always reminded of this poll, where 2% of those asked believe they could win in a fight against a lion).
And it isn’t just voters. Just to make things even more complicated, there’s a constant tug of war between central government in London who would like local government to be boringly quiet and just do as they say, and local government, which sees itself as a site of democratic exuberance and innovation. As a teacher, I always find teaching about local government interesting but challenging, and I spend much of each lesson explaining why it is important.
So why does local government matter?
Firstly there is the money, of course. In 2021-22 local government spent £107.1bn in 2021-22, a fifth of all government spending. That is a very large chunk of money which goes on vital things.
Secondly, even more importantly, is the services this money pays for. What local government does, or doesn’t do, flows directly into everything we can see around us, from roads and rubbish to parks and parking. These are the things that matter and which people see every day. This is always important, but is even more vital now that many councils can’t afford these things, which is having a very real effect on citizens lives’. England has now been left with, as this analysis puts it more potholes and fewer libraries and swimming pools. The cuts have also hit more deprived areas worse.
Third, despite the best efforts of central government, local government is a site of policy experiment and innovation. If you can name a successful policy, there’s a good chance it started at local government level. Free school meals? Recycling? And we don’t yet know what experiments at street level taking place now could be ‘normal’ national policy in the future. Universal Basic Income is now being trialled in two parts of England.
Fourth, local government is a site of democracy and representation and, even more interestingly, is breaking out of the mould of party politics. In 2024, close to fifty councils are already led by Independent, Green and Plaid Cymru councillors across the UK. This has been part of a slow rise of independent local voices over the last decade. Since 2021, 13% of people are represented by an Independent and 32 councils are led by an independent, helping to create a fascinating range of voices.
We see Residents Associations and local groups, from the Ashfield Independents (42 councillors in Nottingham) to The People’s Independent Party (24 councillors in Castlepoint). There are also regional bodies such as the Mebyon Kernow (Cornish Independence party) and the Yorkshire Party (I think you can guess that one), and there are not one, but three Welsh National parties with representation in Wales. All this makes for a vibrant, diverse politics. I’m sad to say, though, that the Church of the Militant Elvis is yet to gain a seat.
Finally, remarkably in an age of supposed anti-politics, local politicians are more trusted, if not far more trusted than national politicians. In this latest survey 68% trusted local councillors to make decisions for their local area, compared with 15% who trusted national politicians. For anyone who wishes to restore politics, look local.
Which brings me to the future. Local government is about to get even more interesting and important. In the short-term, the funding crisis needs to be solved. But Labour has promised more (and real) devolution of power to England. If these proposals are acted on, local government will be at the forefront of boosting the economy, dealing with inequality and giving away power. Could it be, after decades of being ignored or overridden, it’s local government’s time to step into the spotlight?
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