Reform UK Party Conference: 'Reforming local government: governing across England’s regions'

England’s local government landscape is undergoing a profound political realignment, with the dominance of the traditional parties increasingly challenged by fragmentation, insurgent movements and shifting electoral coalitions. Reform UK’s recent advances in local elections, alongside the growing prevalence of minority administrations and cross-party alliances  reflect a broader move towards a more volatile and multi-party era of local governance.   

This increasingly fragmented environment is reshaping how councils are governed and how power is exercised locally, with parties under growing pressure to demonstrate competence, delivery and responsiveness in the face of mounting financial and public service challenges. 

This is a timely opportunity to explore the future of local government at a moment of significant change. As councils face rising demand, constrained budgets and growing public expectations, how can they drive public service reform, improve efficiency and build resilience? What opportunities and challenges are presented by local government reorganisation and new strategic authorities, and what will effective local leadership require in the years ahead? 

Re:State is delighted to welcome Ben Bradley, Cllr Linden Kemkaran and Cllr Sean Matthews for this Reform UK Party Conference panel.