Key Political Tests for Labour in 2026 Include SEND Reforms, Elections, and Single-Sex Space Guidance
The year 2026 has been framed as a crucial period for the Labour Party to demonstrate delivery on the promises made in 2024. A key focus will be the publication of a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) white paper by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. This white paper is expected to explore more cost-effective and efficient ways of managing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), though it risks causing a backbench rebellion if perceived as prioritizing cost-cutting over meaningful reform.
May 2026 will also see local and regional elections anticipated to result in significant losses for both Labour and the Conservatives. In regions such as Wales and Scotland, there is a possibility of Labour finishing third, which could trigger a leadership contest within the party. Following these elections, the government plans to prorogue Parliament and return with a new King's Speech. This speech is expected to include measures related to SEND, an immigration bill, reforms to the House of Lords, and changes to leasehold arrangements on newly built flats.
On the international front, the UK’s relations with the United States will be pivotal, hinging on securing a trade deal and continuing support for Ukraine. Negotiations on a technological collaboration involving artificial intelligence and quantum computing face last-minute objections from the US. Additionally, Christian Turner is poised to become the next UK ambassador to Washington.
A significant domestic issue involves guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission on access to single-sex public spaces. Expected to be approved in 2026, this guidance is based on a recent Supreme Court ruling that defines a woman biologically. The new guidance could limit transgender people's access to toilets corresponding to their gender identity, raising political tensions and criticism from various agencies and campaigners who have voiced concerns over interim advice on the matter. The government's stance on single-sex spaces is thus considered a potential flashpoint in the year ahead.
