The local elections campaign is well underway. Taking place in the shadow of the upcoming general election, the focus is on many different issues, but a major question is whether Labour really has an answer to the fact that so much of local government is teetering on the brink of disaster.
This week, to look at this and all things local elections - including bins! - New Statesman Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian joined Sam and Ayesha on the pod and discussed how these will have an impact on Labour and whether it can deliver real change in government.
The Tories are trying to make headway by putting the blame on Labour-run councils themselves, but while voters seem to be seeing through the attacks, the question remains as to whether Labour is really prepared for the true state of its likely inheritance.
“We know councils are under a huge amount of pressure at the moment and this is a source of real pain for people - who are seeing services cut, council tax bills rising and places like Birmingham going bankrupt, with others teetering on the brink” says Ayesha.
“Eight councils have gone bankrupt since 2010, and this should be a story of how the Conservatives have failed local government. But, Tory rhetoric is trying to blame Labour-run councils themselves” added Chakelian.
“A lot of major councils are run by a Labour administration, and so there is a reputational risk which Labour needs a retort to, but it doesn't because it doesn't really seem to have a plan of how it would save local councils from going bankrupt when they get into government.”
If Labour does well in the elections, the party will also face increased scrutiny over what its approach will be like more generally in government - presenting risks for the party.
Chakelian says the party “needs an answer” - and that “there’s all sorts of things that they can do without making big spending commitments, like council tax reform and changes to business rates.” “Sorting out adult social care is also key, but that would require some sending commitments.”
When asked her key tests for Labour, Anoosh said that having a plan on local government financing was key - but also whether the party could hold firm on their commitments over planning.
“I would like to see if their planning commitments will actually come off. Starmer has said he will ignore local opposition to developments. But can he really do that if they win as many MPs as the polls tell us they will. They’re going to have lots of MPs representing places with nice lovely green spaces and are they really going to want the first thing their government to do is sign off a load of building projects?”
Sam added, “Then you’ll have the National Trust kicking off their campaign, and the RSPB and all of them get involved. It’s pretty hard to fight that lobby. So yea, I’m with you - I hope they commit to that. But, it will be a big test for the first couple of years.”
A local binfire?