With local elections coming up, will you vote and why?

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
As many of you know, we often draw on Mumsnet conversations to show politicians and policymakers what life actually looks like for families.

With elections coming up across Scotland, Wales and parts of England, we’d really like to hear where you are on it all.

Are you planning to vote? What’s shaping your decision? And what issues matter most to you locally right now - are they being addressed in a way that actually feels meaningful?

We also know plenty of you feel disillusioned with politics, or unsure whether engaging makes any difference. If that’s you, it would be really helpful to understand why - and what, if anything, might change your mind.

Thanks,
Justine

It's a bit late to be asking this as the elections are less than a week away. I've already cast my postal vote. And I've voted negatively. That is, I am currently absolutely politically homeless, but I've voted for councillors who will help to make Labour lose control of my council. I'm under no illusion that they are going to be any better, but I want to send a clear message to Labour locally and nationally that I am dissatisfied with how they are running things.

Yes, I’ll vote. Simply because I see it as a civic duty. I’ve been voting since 1973.

Yes. I always vote. This time it is more vital than usual to turn out to vote. We need to keep Reform from gaining power in my country.

I’ll vote, always do. I’m politically homeless but will vote Labour to prevent Reform or Greens getting in (Tories and Lib Dem have no chance here) mostly based on national policies but Labour locally have not been too bad - better than the previous tories and both Reform and Green have extreme policies, none of which would benefit a middle aged disabled woman.

Yes, I will vote. I always do.
Our local council has been governed by the same party for over 20 years. They are not a party I would normally vote for in a general election, but on the whole, they do a good job in the local area. I sometimes vote against them as a protest vote, but they always get in anyway. This time, I will be voting for them, as I do not want reform to have any chance of getting in.

Yes always vote. I will be voting for lib dems to continue in my area

Yes, I will vote, because I consider it my civic duty in a democracy to do so. I live in a very uncontroversial area - not Labour, no threat from Reform or the Greens - but I will still vote.

Yes always vote. I will be voting for lib dems to continue in my area. I'm concerned reform will get in which im determined to avoid

Yes I'll be voting - I always do. I'll be voting for our current party as they've done a really good job locally. As it happens, this aligns with how I'd vote in a General Election, but I'm voting for local reasons/benefits rather than trying to make a statement about national politics.

I’ll vote Lib Dem because they are strong round here and they’re a group of well organised, competent people who are good at local services. No point using the locals to send a message and then end up with useless people who don’t want to do the hard, boring work of being councillors.

I always vote. I'm voting for my current (conservative) counsellor, who has been doing a good job in my area for years now. I also don't want to vote in someone as a protest who doesn't bother or messes things up locally.

I won’t be voting. I truly don’t believe there is a jot of difference between them & I can use the hour it’d take me far more productively to have a positive impact on my family and community.

I won't because I am working the elections and left it too late to set up a postal vote. It's the first time I haven't voted, but also the first time I feel that not voting makes just as much of a statement.

As women chained themselves to railings, were imprisoned and threw themselves under horses so we could have the vote, of course I will vote - I’ve never missed. I shall vote Reform because without them, I wouldn’t be able to vote at all this time around - this would have been for the second year. Labour was more than happy to deny us democracy, and the Conservatives did nothing to oppose it. What I shall vote in the next General election remains to be seen.

Our council is very complacent. Conservative with the odd Lib Dem.
I shall be voting but not sure who for yet.

It won’t be Green. My DS has joined and we have a nice big sign outside. Someone still posted a leaflet through. Not terribly bright and obviously a waste of a paper.

Same. Our three incumbent ward councillors are all LibDem and they do a good job. There’s no reason to change.

Same here
The same people who are vocal about Reform are the same ones banging on about protecting the NHS and their right to march to show their Englishness.

Will be a first time lib dem voter, Ive always voted labour and kind of expected so much from them I was too young to vote in 1997 but remember that feel good factor in 1997,sadly this time around it's not lived up to the hype and labour have been shocking, plus lib dems always seem good on local issues

I'll be voting Labour and yes, I always vote.

I always vote and have only ever voted Labour.
I doubt this will change.

Council decisions are incredibly boring for posturing candidates.

We currently have a conservative (woman) council who ably manage elderly care /waste disposal/ pot holes/ planning etc.

The likely takeover is Reform and I feel it will be a lot of posturing men who don’t actually do anything other than talk about it.

Just my opinion

Hope everyone gets whatever is best for them locally

I’m voting tactically to try and keep Reform off my council. That will be Lib Dem here, but that’s largely irrelevant - I’m voting “not Reform”.

Greens are already jointly in charge of my local council and they are campaigning really hard, I’ve had different flyers for the Green Party put through my door 3 times over the last week, none from any other party and I will vote green to stop Reform getting in which, as I live in an area of high deprivation, seems to have a lot of support around here.

I have already voted. Labour. They’ve done a reasonably good job running my council which is at risk of falling into no overall control with a Reform presence. My ward is a straight Labour/Green fight.

Our local councillors do a great job, so although I’d never vote for their party nationally, they’ll get my vote. Terrified of Reform getting in, and it could be NOC here.
Can 16/17 year olds vote in this one?