English local authorities have a choice of executive arrangements out of a mayor and cabinet executive, a leader and cabinet executive, a committee system or alternative arrangements approved by the Secretary of State.[1] Councils in England[1] and Northern Ireland[8] run on four year cycles, while councils in Scotland[9] and, from 2022, in Wales[10] run on five year cycles. An English local authority's councillors may be elected all at once, by halves or by thirds.[1] Because of this disparate system, various local elections take place every year, but changes in party representation arise frequently regardless due to resignations, deaths, by-elections, co-options and changes of affiliation.
The table differentiates between councils fully controlled by one party and others where a certain party leads a coalition that governs the council. All parties apart from the Conservatives (CON), Labour (LAB) and Liberal Democrats (LDM); as well as independents, are grouped in the category: OTHER.
Map showing political control of the 152 Local authorities in England (doesn't show non-metropolitan districts or the Isles of Scilly). Bright colours represents control of a single party, pastel colours represent the leading party in a coalition government. Blue is for CON, red for LAB, orange for LDM, green for GRN and grey for IND/OTHER.
Party
NMC
UA + IS
MD
LB + CL
Total no. of councils
% of all councils
CON control
20
25
4
6
56
36.8
CON-led coalition
–
1
–
–
1
0.7
CON
20
27
4
6
57
37.5
LAB control
–
15
30
21
65
42.8
LAB-led coalition
1
2
1
–
4
2.6
LAB
1
16
31
21
69
45.4
LDM control
1
3
1
3
8
5.3
LDM-led coalition
1
4
–
–
5
3.3
LDM
2
7
1
3
13
8.6
OTHER control
–
4
–
2
6
3.9
OTHER-led coalition
1
4
–
1
6
3.9
OTHER
1
8
–
3
12
7.9
LAB + GRN tie
–
1
–
–
1
0.7
Total
24
59
36
33
152
100.0
England: London borough councils
The largest party in each borough council. Red denotes the Labour Party; blue denotes the Conservatives; yellow denotes the Liberal Democrats; and grey denotes independent candidates.
All 32 Scottish Councils had all their seats up for election by Single Transferable Vote in May 2022. Elections are on a five-year cycle and are next due in May 2027. Only two mainland councils are controlled by majority administrations: Dundee and West Dumbartonshire, which are controlled by Scottish Labour and the Scottish National Party, respectively. The three island councils (Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles) are each controlled by local independents.
Political control may be held by minority governments (min), coalitions (co), joint leadership arrangements (j.l.) or partnership working arrangements (p.w.).[20]
Elections were most recently held for 11 councils in Northern Ireland in May 2023. They are held every four years, with the next elections due in May 2027. All seats are filled at once by Single Transferable vote within district electoral areas of 5 to 7 wards.
The councils have ceremonial mayors elected by council members. Uniquely in the UK, vacancies are filled by co-option by whichever party won the seat at the previous election.
