Local Elections 2026 Member Briefing

The local elections held across England on 7th May produced significant changes to the political landscape. Local elections typically see a swing towards the main opposition party. But this is different as the vote is so split between all the opposition parties. These results are being described as a “historic shift in British politics”. The headline figures are:  

• The Labour Party lost 1,496 seats, losing control of 38 councils 

• Reform UK took 1,453 councillor positions, gaining control of 14 councils  

• The Conservative Party lost 563 seats 

• The Green Party gained 411 seats 

• The Liberal Democrats gained 155 seats 

• 24 councils moved into no overall control 

To read the full election results and learn the new makeup of your council, please click here.   

Why do these changes matter to providers?  

These local election results matter to adult social care providers because local authorities decide how care services are funded, commissioned, and valued at a local level. There are lots of parties who have not held significant power before in politics – it is important they are brought up to date on the importance of social care to local economics, families and the NHS. The importance of social care needs to be communicated, and new relationships need to be built. 

Adult social care is primarily commissioned and funded through local authorities. Councillors decide how much budget is allowed to adult social care, they set the fee rates paid to providers, contracts with providers and more. When political control changes as much as it has in these elections, local priorities and processes can change too.  

Many newly elected councillors will have limited knowledge of social care, as it is not often an issue on the ballot paper. This may be particularly relevant to these local elections, as parties that have gained power rapidly, like Reform UK and the Green Party, may have even less experience of the sector.  

This creates an important opportunity for Care England and providers to help shape the understanding of key issues, including commissioning practices, market pressures, workforce shortages, legal duties under the Care Act, NHS discharge challenges and more. By engaging early, we have the opportunity to ensure decision makers hear directly from those delivering care and establish those constructive relationships from the outset. 

To achieve this, providers need to be proactive in building these new relationships and strengthening the shared understanding of the complexity of adult social care. Existing influence structures and relationships may no longer apply under new administrations; it is crucial that new relationships are developed.   

If you wish to send a letter directly to your new councillors, to start to build the relationship and highlight the contribution and importance of social care in your community, click here to see a template letter. Please edit accordingly.  

Alternatively, if you would like Care England to engage on your behalf, please contact the policy team at policy@careengland.org.uk   

Care England’s actions  

Care England has called for all newly elected councillors to make adult social care a top priority. Professor Martin Green has urged every newly elected councillor to take time to understand adult social care as the lifeline it is for the older people, disabled adults, and families who depend on these services. 

To read Care England’s full statement, please click here. 

Care England are in the process of writing to all councillors with a congratulatory letter and briefing materials to bring them up to speed on key issues facing the adult social care sector generally, and more specifically in their area. Care England is also keen to arrange meetings with newly elected councillors to ensure the voice of care providers is heard at a local level from the outset, and to connect them directly with providers operating in their communities. These relationships are vital to ensuring adult social care is understood and prioritised locally.  

If you would be open to hosting a newly elected councillor, it would be great to hear from you. Please be in touch with the policy team at policy@careengland.org.uk.