6 Days Until Polling Day!

With less than a week to go before the local election polls open, politicians from all parties are talking up their chances. More than half the country’s councillors are up for election this year – and many communities will change hands or have new councillors. The Conservatives’ strategic aim is to have more councillors across the UK than Labour. This is not going to happen this year, and Iain Duncan Smith is publicly, dramatically, playing down his chances. The Tories are predicting as few as 30 gains – but privately strategists are growing more confident.

Labour, meanwhile, has already suffered from mass abstention by its activists, many of whom refused to stand. This has meant that for the first time ever, they have fewer candidates across the UK than Charles Kennedy’s Liberal Democrats. However, much of this decline has been in rural areas of southern Britain where Labour has been traditionally weak, and their vote should hold up rather better in the areas where Labour councillors are defending seats.

Neither Labour nor the Lib Dems are making predictions yet – but Charles Kennedy’s party is likely to perform well. Part of this will be a recovery after some bad results in 1999, but part will reflect the continuing Lib Dem urban revival that could see cities such as York, Derby and Bristol fall out of Labour control.

Many in the media have been talking up the chances of minority parties, independents and even the BNP. Certainly there will be plenty of gains for those outside the political mainstream, and long lists of independent candidates have appeared in some unusual areas. But the numbers of these candidates is still small (tiny in the case of the far-right parties), and while there will be a few headline-grabbing successes, the results are unlikely to represent a massive shift in the political climate.

The Green Issues Guide

Green Issues Communications can give you an instant update on any local government elections you may have an interest in. Within two working days we will provide you with the information you need about areas you may work in. Costs start from £250 per authority and packages can be tailor-made to your needs.

For more information contact Gareth Epps at garethe@greenissues.com or by phone on 0118 959 1211.

Breakfast Seminars

Following the series of seminars on the proposed development of over 200,000 new homes in the South East, presentations made by Ian Christie (Visiting Professor on Sustainable Development, University of Surrey) and Ian Thorn (Associate Director, Green Issues Communications) are available on our website www.greenissues.com. Alternatively, if you would like to order a copy on CD, please contact Lisa Turner, on 0118 959 1211.