The Guardian View on May 2026 Elections: A New Political Geography is Coming Into View Across Britain
The elections scheduled for 7 May 2026 in Britain will encompass local councils, the Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh Senedd. These elections carry significant implications, potentially imperiling the leadership of the Labour and Conservative parties. The Scottish National Party (SNP) is described as being on course to secure a majority in Holyrood.
In Wales, Labour faces the prospect of losing power for the first time since devolution, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK expected to make gains. In England, both Labour and the Conservatives risk losing council seats to the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Greens. These results will be interpreted as a test of the leadership of Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.
Devolution has fragmented national allegiances over time. The SNP positions itself as resisting Westminster, altering accountability dynamics that had previously benefited Labour when the Conservatives were in government. England's devolution architecture remains inconsistent and evolving. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill aims to transfer power but faces resistance from the Treasury regarding fiscal powers.
Additionally, four new mayoral elections originally scheduled for May 2026 have been postponed until 2028 to accommodate lower-tier reorganisation, drawing criticism from opposition parties. Reform UK has exhibited notable local success, capturing two new regional mayoralties—Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire—and winning a Runcorn by-election. This marks a shift away from Westminster's traditional two-party dominance.
The article argues that a new political geography is emerging across Britain as devolution reshapes power and political loyalties, challenging traditional party alignments. England remains the dominant nation in the United Kingdom, comprising approximately 85% of the population and a larger share of the economy. This dynamic is central to ongoing devolution debates and its centrifugal pressures.
Reform UK's anti-immigrant stance and English nationalism are highlighted as part of the evolving political landscape in England.
