There is a general sense of dissatisfaction with local councils; it has become the norm to speak breathlessly of how poor they are. Newspaper reports abound about infighting, scandal and incompetence – which many feel is due to perpetual rule by the same parties.
One challenge with the use of the first-past-the-post electoral system in local elections is that in some English councils there is lacklustre opposition, or even none – which is not great for democracy. Having a system that encourages single-party rule tends to create a vicious circle of disenfranchisement, leaving little room for opposition parties to put resources into elections in which they have little chance of winning seats. Artificially inflated majorities are the result, particularly in London borough wards, where people have as many votes as there are council seats.
Content from our partners
