Local Elections: Voters lack confidence in all main parties to deliver, with Reform UK poised to do well

• Voters lack confidence that any party can govern effectively – locally or nationally 
• The cost of living is the most important issue for voters across the political spectrum, followed by the NHS and the UK economy – with immigration key for Reform UK voters.

New research from Ipsos in the UK sheds light on the factors shaping voter decisions in the upcoming local elections on May 1, 2025. 

The research, conducted online among 1,085 British adults aged 18-75 between April 17-18, reveals widespread antipathy towards all main parties. Reform UK is seen by voters as similarly credible in their ability to run both local councils and the country as the Labour Party – though a majority lack faith in both

• Performance matters: When asked what is most important to them in deciding who to vote for, Britons are equally likely to examine how well their local council has run things, as well as how the UK government has run the country (both 38%). This is followed by party policies on national issues (36%), as well as what parties are promising to do in their local area (35%).

• Pocketbook issues dominant: The cost of living (50%) is the most important issue for voters across the political spectrum, followed by the NHS (45%) and the UK economy (40%). The cost of living and NHS are particularly prevalent in the minds of both Labour and Conservative supporters. Immigration, however, is the key concern for Reform UK voters.

• Widespread lack of confidence: Over half of Britons express a lack of confidence in the main political parties' ability to run either the country or their local council effectively. However, Reform UK and Labour are neck and neck when it comes to the percentage who are confident in their ability to run the country (35% and 33% respectively), while Reform UK, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats are tied when it comes to local councils (all 34%).

• Public opinion is divided on the state of local public services: Britons are divided on how they view the current state of public services, however there is a slight lean towards viewing them as in a good state (48% good vs. 45% poor). Younger Britons aged 18-34 are most likely to view the state of public services positively (59%), while Reform UK voters are most likely to view them negatively (30% positively vs. 65% negatively). 
• Who is to blame? Regardless of whether they view the current state of local public services as good or poor, Britons primarily hold their local councils responsible for their condition. Those who view services positively also credit their local MP and the current Labour government, while those who view them negatively also point to the state of the economy and the current Labour government.

Commenting on the findings, Keiran Pedley, Director of UK Politics at Ipsos said:

These findings neatly summarise where UK politics is at present. There is widespread public disillusionment at the state of the country and a lack of faith that any party can turn things around. The local elections next week will provide some insight as to the relative state of the parties. As voters go to the polls, a mix of local and national issues are on their minds. Given that Reform UK are seen as just as likely as Labour to run local councils effectively, we should expect them to make significant gains.  

Notes to Editors: 

• For media queries, please contact MacKenzie Horn at [email protected]. 
• For the full findings, please visit the Ipsos website. 
• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,085 online British adults aged 18-75. Polling was conducted between the 17th and 18th April 2025.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.