Special Edition: Local Elections 2026
As Reform sweeps county halls, the Greens surge across London and Labour faces tough questions in its traditional heartlands, this special Local Elections edition of Our World Is Local dives deep into one of the most dramatic local election nights in recent memory.
Hosts Nick and Heather are joined by Cratus Group’s Charlotte Platten and Harriet Shone to unpack the big winners, the bruising losses, the rise of coalition politics and what it all means for the future of local government, housing delivery and devolution.
From Reform UK’s breakthrough in places like Kent and Essex to the Conservatives’ surprisingly strong performance in London boroughs including Westminster, Bromley and Bexley, the panel explores why some political narratives held and why others collapsed completely.
The episode also tackles:
- The growing influence of the Green Party in London
- Whether Reform can transition from protest movement to governing party
- The political fallout of Birmingham’s bin crisis
- Housing battles in Barnet, Enfield and across the capital
- Tactical voting, fragile coalitions and the rise of “kingmaker” councillors
- Why local government needs more vision, hope and leadership
- The warning signs for Labour ahead of the next General Election
And underpinning it all is a stark reminder: while political maps may change overnight, councils still face the daily challenge of delivering the basics, from bins and potholes to housing and temporary accommodation for thousands of children.
If you care about politics, placemaking, councils or the future direction of the country, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes here.
You can listen to the previous episodes on Spotify here and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.
