Local elections special: end of the two-party duopoly?

This week, we’ve seen Reform UK trounce Labour and the Conservatives across England in local elections. 

Nigel Farage’s party has secured a fifth MP, clinched two mayorships and seized control of at least seven councils.

In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to go harder and faster with his reforms, while Kemi Badenoch’s leadership of the Conservative party is coming under scrutiny.

Host Lucy Fisher is joined by podcast regulars George Parker, Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush to dissect what the results mean for the government, the opposition and traditional two-party politics in the UK.

Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. 

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley,

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social, @stephenkb and George Parker @GeorgeWParker @georgewparker.bskyb.social

Want more? Free links:   

Reform UK sweeps English councils in local election rout

Nigel Farage shakes British politics with election surge

Multi-party politics heightens danger for muddled Labour

Reform wins first UK council in local election surge

Plus: The final State of Britain newsletter from Political Fix regular Pete Foster reflecting on his five or more years as the FT’s public policy editor, covering Brexit and its impact on UK government and business. 

Post-Brexit UK: stuck between an unreliable US and a mercantilist EU

Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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