Sunday, May 9, 2021

UK update - 09MAY2021

 UK held its local elections over the weekend and I want to sum up some of the results.


Scotland
64-SNP
31-CON
22-LAB
8-GRN
4-LD


Wales
30-LAB
16-CON
13-PC
1-LD


English Locals
The general trend is that the Tories are up.


London
11-LAB
9-CON
3-GRN
2-LD
LAB mayor Sadiq Khan re-elected, 55-45, over CON Shaun Bailey. 


Some thoughts:

One of the biggest changes from recent elections is the absence of a strong hard-right party. In the past two decades, UKIP, the BNP, and other such parties have often been able to make some gains; but here we see a fairly strong rejection. There are still 3 (of 143) councils left to declare, but the combined total of UKIP, RUK, and "Liberal Party" wins is 3 councillors; contrasted with 3 undefined "others", 43 Residents Association members, 248 Independents, 143 Greens (subtotal of 437), plus 572 LibDems, 1332 Labour councillors, and 2313 Tories. This (3) is down from a combined 49 last time.

In Scotland the SNP has actually gained a seat; but, generally, the results are very similar to the previous election. The same can mostly be said for Labour and Wales, but with the absence, this time, of any hard-right parties. Tory strength seems to be driven, somewhat, by weak LibDem and Hard-Right results. This contrasts with Labour, which is facing a growing Green threat on its left. 


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