Local Elections 2019

BRIEFING PAPER Number CBP 8566, 31 July 2019

By Elise Uberoi

Contents: 1. Results Summary 2. Elections in England 3. England: post-election composition 4. England: mayoral elections 5. England: voter ID pilot schemes 6. GB: national share of the vote 7. Northern Ireland: councillors 8. About the data 9. Appendix

www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary 2 Local Elections 2019

Contents

1. Results Summary 3 1.1 England 3 Voter ID pilot scheme 4 1.2 Northern Ireland 4 2. Elections in England 5 2.1 Electoral cycles 5 2.2 Parties 6 3. England: post-election composition 10 3.1 Population based comparison 12 4. England: mayoral elections 14 5. England: voter ID pilot schemes 16 5.1 Background 16 5.2 How many people were prevented from voting? 17 5.3 Was turnout affected by the ID requirements? 18 6. GB: national share of the vote 19 7. Northern Ireland: councillors 21 8. About the data 22 9. Appendix 23 9.1 England local elections 2019: results 23 9.2 English council control 24 9.3 Northern Ireland local elections 2019: results 25

Contributing authors Carl Baker, maps & population figures

Cover page image copyright: Polling Station attributed to secretlondon123 licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

3 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

1. Results Summary 1.1 England An interactive map showing the results of the 2019 local elections in England is published on the Commons Library website.

The Conservatives won the highest number of seats up for election (3,559). They won or retained 93 of the councils which had elections on 2 May 2019, and now control a total of 143 councils overall in England – a decrease of 55 compared to 2018. The Conservatives gained six councils, two from Labour (North East Derbyshire and Redditch) and four that were previously without overall control. They lost control of 51 councils: four to Labour, nine to the Liberal Democrats, one to the Residents of Uttlesford, and 37 to no overall control. The Labour Party won 2,020 of the seats up for election. They won or retained control of 60 councils at this year’s elections, taking their total council control to 91 (seven fewer than last year). Labour gained eight councils, four from the Conservatives and four that were previously without overall control. They lost 18 councils: two to the Conservatives, 15 to no overall control, and one to the Ashfield Independents. Labour candidates won in two out of the five local council mayoral elections, as well as the North of Tyne metro-mayor election. 4 Local Elections 2019

The Liberal Democrats won 1,351 of the seats up for election and won or retained 18 councils, taking their overall council control to 23. This is the highest it has been since 2010. The Liberal Democrats gained 13 councils, nine from the Conservatives and four where there was no overall control. The Liberal Democrats did not lose control of any council. The Liberal Democrat candidate won in the Bedford council mayoral election. The Green Party won 263 seats at the local elections, around 3% of all seats up for election. This is the highest number of seats the party has won in more than 20 years. The Green Party does not currently control any council in Great Britain. UKIP won 34 seats at this year's local elections, 31 more than in 2018 but substantially fewer than the 201 seats won in 2015. The highest percentage of seats up for election won by UKIP was in 2013 (6%). UKIP does not have control of any council. Voter ID pilot scheme There were pilots for voter ID schemes in 10 local authorities. The Local Government Chronicle reported that in the voter ID pilot areas, more than 800 people were turned away from polling stations for not having the required proof of ID and did not return to vote. Subsequent data released by the Cabinet Office showed this number was 702. The Cabinet Office and the Electoral Commission both evaluated the pilots and found that perceptions of the security of the electoral process improved (notwithstanding local variations).

1.2 Northern Ireland The Democratic Unionist Party remained the largest party in Northern Ireland, winning 122 seats (26% of all seats up for election). This was 8 fewer than in the previous elections, held in 2014. Sinn Féin was the second largest party, winning 105 seats (23%), the same as in 2014. The Ulster Unionist Party came third with 75 seats (16%), 13 fewer than in 2014. 5 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

2. Elections in England

England is divided into administrative areas governed by local authorities, which are either: • Single tier authorities (unitary councils, metropolitan borough councils, and London borough councils); or • Two-tier authorities, with county councils covering multiple lower- tier district councils. On 2 May 2019, 248 councils in England held elections: 168 shire districts, 33 metropolitan boroughs, and 47 unitary authorities.

2.1 Electoral cycles Local council members are elected for 4-year terms using the first past the post system. There are a variety of electoral cycles, so not all councillors are elected at the same time: some authorities elect their entire council at once, while others elect a proportion of members each year. There are three methods of holding elections to local councils: • Whole: All councillors are elected once every four years, in whole council elections. • Thirds: Councillors are elected for four-year terms by thirds; that is, at each election, a third of the councillors are elected. Elections are held every year except in years when there are county council elections in the rest of England. • Halves: Councillors are elected for four-year terms by halves; that is, at each election, half the councillors are elected. Elections are held every two years.

Local election cycles in England: a rough guide

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Unitary Councils Metropolitan London Boroughs District Councils County Councils

Shaded areas indicate when elections are scheduled.

In principle, the set of seats up for election this year was last up for election in 2015. However, in practice, the sets are not identical, because there have been boundary reviews in several local authorities. These have led to changes in the number of seats on some councils, and all councils (even those normally using a different method for holding elections) must hold elections for the entire council following boundary reviews. Local council by-elections may also take place at the same time as scheduled local elections should a council seat become vacant during a councillor’s term. Conservative

The Conservatives won 42% of the seats up for election on 2 May 2019, up from 30% in 2018, but down from 59% in the last set of comparable elections in 2015. The overall number of councils controlled by the Conservatives decreased by 49 compared to immediately before the election. At 143, it is the lowest in more than 15 years.

Percent of seats up for election wona Councils controlledb

70% 250

60% 200 50%

150 40%

30% 100

20% 50 10%

0% 0 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017

Summary of Conservative local election results

Election year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Seats won 1,609 5,113 786 1,117 1,366 5,540 851 1,440 1,332 3,559 Unitary Councils 120 851 105 183 115 941 138 231 108 698 Metropolitan 154 151 110 128 162 114 7 175 119 London Boroughs 717 612 511 District Councils 618 4111 571 511 4437 599 538 2742 County Councils 934 1202

% of seats up for 38% 54% 33% 47% 32% 59% 31% 61% 30% 42% election wona

Councils controlledb 199 199 190 180 164 192 191 200 198 143 Unitary Councils 24 23 20 20 18 19 21 22 23 16 Metropolitan 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 London Boroughs 11 11 11 11 9 9 9 9 7 7 District Councils 135 136 131 131 119 146 143 143 143 95 County Councils 26 26 26 16 16 16 16 24 24 23

Net change in council -7 1 -10 -10 -13 28 -1 9 -2 -49 controlc

Notes and sources a. All figures England only. Shows seats won by stated party as a percentage of total seats up for election. Note not all parties field candidates in all seats. b. Council control immediately following elections of stated year. c. Net change compared to control immediately prior to election; figures not comparable with year-on-year changes to total number of councils controlled by party. d. Figures for councils controlled and net change in councils controlled refer to those controlled by an absolute majority; minority controlled councils are excluded.

Sources: 1997 - 2017 data from Rallings & Thrasher Local Elections Handbooks; 2018 and 2019 data collated by House of Commons Library; Rallings and Thrasher, “Voters turned their backs on the main two parties”, Local Government Chronicle, 7 May 2019; BBC, "England local elections 2019" Labour

Labour won 24% of the seats up for election on 2 May 2019, less than half the proportion won in 2018. Compared to 2015, the proportion of seats Labour won decreased by one percentage point. The overall number of councils controlled by Labour decreased by six compared to 2018; it is the lowest number since 2012.

Percent of seats up for election wona Councils controlledb

70% 120

60% 100

50% 80

40% 60 30%

40 20%

20 10%

0% 0 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017

Summary of Labour local election results

Election year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Seats won 1,778 2,461 1,189 538 2,124 2,292 1,319 417 2,355 2,020 Unitary Councils 153 707 203 158 191 673 233 115 187 589 Metropolitan 521 594 604 565 634 664 43 723 472 London Boroughs 875 1060 1125 District Councils 229 1160 382 308 985 422 320 959 County Councils 380 259

% of seats up for 42% 26% 49% 23% 50% 25% 47% 18% 53% 24% election wona

Councils controlledb 50 77 100 103 106 100 100 99 98 91 Unitary Councils 10 17 23 23 21 18 19 20 20 15 Metropolitan 16 24 29 29 30 30 29 29 30 30 London Boroughs 17 17 17 17 20 20 21 21 21 21 District Councils 7 19 31 32 33 30 30 29 27 25 County Councils 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0

Net change in council 15 26 24 2 4 -6 0 -1 0 -6 controlc

The Liberal Democrats won 16% of all seats up for election, four percentage points higher than the proportion won last year, and more than double the proportion they won in 2015. For the fourth year in a row, the Liberal Democrats saw an increase in the overall number of councils they control, rising to 23, the highest since 2010 (but not as high as in 2006, when they controlled 32 councils).

Percent of seats up for election wona Councils controlledb

70% 40

60%

30 50%

40% 20 30%

20% 10

10%

0% 0 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017

Summary of Liberal Democrat local election results

Election year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Seats won 728 1,099 288 352 429 661 377 313 537 1,351 Unitary Councils 75 216 40 101 45 123 54 88 48 287 Metropolitan 133 56 72 66 40 88 0 83 80 London Boroughs 246 116 152 District Councils 274 827 176 202 498 235 254 984 County Councils 251 225

% of seats up for 17% 12% 12% 15% 10% 7% 14% 13% 12% 16% election wona

Councils controlledb 25 14 12 12 10 6 7 8 11 23 Unitary Councils 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Metropolitan 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 London Boroughs 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 District Councils 18 11 9 9 9 5 6 7 8 19 County Councils 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Net change in council -1 -10 1 0 -2 -4 1 0 4 12 controlc

The Green Party won 263 seats at the local Percent of seats up for election wona elections on 2 May 2019, around 3% of all seats 8% up for election. This is the highest number of 7% seats the Green Party has won in more than 6% twenty years. The Green Party does not 5% currently control any councils in Great Britain. 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017

Election year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Seats won 13 79 26 22 37 84 49 20 39 263 Unitary Councils 2 30 1 3 5 30 15 2 2 51 Metropolitan 2 8 10 12 7 12 0 18 24 London Boroughs 2 4 11 District Councils 7 41 15 16 47 22 8 188 County Councils 19 18

% of seats up for 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 3% election wona

United Kingdom Independence Party

a UKIP won 34 seats at this year's local elections, Percent of seats up for election won 31 more than in 2018 but still substantially 8% fewer than the 201 seats won in 2015. 7% The highest percentage of seats up for election 6% won by UKIP was in 2013 (6%). 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Election year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Seats won 1 8 7 147 163 201 62 1 3 34 Unitary Councils 0 1 2 9 37 23 15 0 2 8 Metropolitan 0 0 0 34 8 21 0 0 4 London Boroughs 0 12 0 District Councils 1 7 5 80 170 26 1 22 County Councils 138 1

% of seats up for 0% 0% 0% 6% 4% 2% 2% 0% 0% 0% election wona

Notes and sources a. All figures England only. Shows seats won by stated party as a percentage of total seats up for election. Note not all parties field candidates in all seats.

3. England: post-election composition

The table below summarises council composition and control for all local authorities in England immediately following the local elections held on 2 May 2019. This includes councils where elections were not held.

English post-election council composition: May 2019

CON LAB LD OTH NOC

Councillors

Number London boroughs 511 1,121 154 47 - Counties 1,150 257 217 117 - Metropolitan boroughs 387 1,640 215 158 - Shire districts 3,874 1,552 1,361 1,301 - Unitary authorities 1,136 1,048 459 461 - England 7,058 5,618 2,406 2,084 -

Percent London boroughs 28% 61% 8% 3% - Counties 66% 15% 12% 7% - Metropolitan boroughs 16% 68% 9% 7% - Shire districts 48% 19% 17% 16% - Unitary authorities 37% 34% 15% 15% - England 41% 33% 14% 12%

Councils controlled

Number London boroughs 7 21 3 0 1 Counties 23 0 0 0 3 Metropolitan boroughs 2 30 0 0 4 Shire districts 95 25 19 5 48 Unitary authorities 16 15 1 0 23 England 143 91 23 5 79

Percent London boroughs 22% 66% 9% 0% 3% Counties 88% 0% 0% 0% 12% Metropolitan boroughs 6% 83% 0% 0% 11% Shire districts 49% 13% 10% 3% 25% Unitary authorities 29% 27% 2% 0% 42% England 42% 27% 7% 1% 23%

Source: Rallings and Thrasher, “Voters turned their backs on the main two parties”, Local Government Chronicle, 7 May 2019

The Conservatives hold the greatest share of seats and councils in England (41% and 42% respectively). Labour are second with 33% of councillors and 27% of councils controlled. The Liberal Democrats control 7% of councils, while 23% of councils have no overall control, and five councils are controlled by an ‘other’ party. 11 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

The following table looks at council composition and control for all local authorities in England immediately following elections by year (generally held on the first Thursday of May). As above, this includes those where elections were not held.

English council control immediately after local elections

Number Percent

CON LAB LD OTH NOC CON LAB LD OTH NOC

2005 155 71 31 7 122 40% 18% 8% 2% 32% 2006 168 54 32 5 127 44% 14% 8% 1% 33% 2007 204 48 29 5 100 53% 12% 8% 1% 26% 2008 213 44 29 5 95 55% 11% 8% 1% 25% 2009 207 33 26 4 81 59% 9% 7% 1% 23% 2010 199 50 25 4 73 57% 14% 7% 1% 21% 2011 199 77 14 1 60 57% 22% 4% 0% 17% 2012 190 100 12 1 48 54% 28% 3% 0% 14% 2013 180 103 12 1 55 51% 29% 3% 0% 16% 2014 164 106 10 1 70 47% 30% 3% 0% 20% 2015 192 100 6 2 51 55% 28% 2% 1% 15% 2016 191 100 7 1 52 54% 28% 2% 0% 15% 2017 200 99 8 2 42 57% 28% 2% 1% 12% 2018 198 98 11 1 43 56% 28% 3% 0% 12% 2019 143 91 23 5 79 42% 27% 7% 1% 23%

Sources: Rallings and Thrasher, “Voters turned their backs on the main two parties”, Local Government Chronicle, 9 May 2019; House of Commons Library

The Conservatives control 55 fewer councils compared with 2018 and Labour control seven fewer than last year. The Liberal Democrats control 23 councils, more than double the number they controlled in 2018, and this is the fourth year in a row they increased the number of councils they control. However, this is still lower than any time in the decade before 2010. Their highest return in this period came in 2006, when they controlled 32 councils, only 22 fewer than Labour at the time. The proportion of councils that have no overall control has almost doubled, from 12% in 2018 to 23%. In the recent past, the Conservatives typically controlled approximately twice as many councils as Labour (for example, 56% vs. 28% in 2018). This was no longer the case in 2019 (42% vs. 27%). Their best result in the past decade was in 2009 when they controlled 59% of councils, compared with Labour’s 9%. The chart below shows the number of councillors by party in Great Britain from 1973 to 2019. Following the elections in May 2019, the Conservatives have 7,507 (38% of all) councillors in Great Britain, Labour have 6,332 (32%), the Liberal Democrats 2,531 (13%), and Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party combined have 622 (3%). There are a further 2,655 (14%) councillors in Great Britain who are either independents or affiliated with other parties. This is up from 2,019 (10%) in 2018. 12 Local Elections 2019

Party affiliation of councillors in Great Britain

50% CON

40%

30% LAB

20% OTH

10% LD SNP/PC

0% 1973 1978 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019

Sources: Rallings and Thrasher, “Voters turned their backs on the main two parties”, Local Government Chronicle, 9 May 2019; House of Commons Library 3.1 Population based comparison There is substantial variation in the size of local council areas, both in terms of geography and population. The table below shows the number and proportion of people living in councils controlled by different parties, immediately after the 2019 local elections.

Population in councils controlled by parties after 2019 elections

No elections LAB CON NOC LD OTH

Number of councils 69 60 93 74 18 3 % of English councils 22% 19% 29% 23% 6% 1% Population of councils 16,592,504 13,404,529 12,236,161 11,290,204 2,157,522 296,258 % of English population 30% 24% 22% 20% 4% 1%

Source: ONS Annual Population Estimates, Mid-2018

The map below shows which parties controlled councils that held elections in 2019, immediately after the elections. Each local authority is scaled in size according to their population. The map shows district, metropolitan borough and unitary authority councils. There were no elections in county councils and London boroughs.

Local election results 2019: population-based map

On this population-based map, local authorities are scaled in size according Standard map to their populations: each small hexagon represents a population of around 8,000 people. Areas are grouped by traditional counties and other recognisable areas - these groups include unitary authorities and don't all reflect current local government structures. Lines between hexagons show authority boundaries. Extra labels are provided for large towns & cities to help you locate particular places (e.g. 'Sou.' = Southend).

On traditional maps (such as the inset, right), sparsely-populated rural areas are visually over-represented since they appear much larger than densely- populated urban areas. Since rural and urban areas can be very different to one another, this means that traditional maps don't always give a full picture of the data when viewed on their own.

Council control Conservative Labour On the inset map above, black Lib Dem borders match the county groupings used on the main map Other No overall control No elections

Map scale (approx) 8,000 100,000

500,000 people 14 Local Elections 2019

4. England: mayoral elections

There were mayoral elections in six areas of England on 2 May 2019. The North of Tyne region held its first election for the mayor of the combined authority (known as a ‘metro-mayor’). Five local authorities held mayoral elections for their respective councils. Mayoral elections are held using the Supplementary Vote system, where voters indicate their first and second preference. If no candidate achieves 50% of first preference votes, only the two candidates with the highest numbers of votes are retained. The second preference votes for these candidates recorded on the ballot papers of the eliminated candidates are counted and the candidate with the highest number of total votes is elected.

Metro-mayor election result

First preference Second preference Total vote Number % Number % Number %

North of Tyne Combined Authority Charlie Hoult CON 45,494 24.9% 14,595 49.6% 60,089 43.9% Jamie Driscoll LAB 62,034 33.9% 14,828 50.4% 76,862 56.1% John Appleby LD 23,768 13.0% William Jackson UKIP 20,131 11.0% John McCabe IND 31,507 17.2% OTH Electorate 572,229 Turnout 32.0%

Source: Results published online or provided by local authorities; BBC The Labour candidate for the North of Tyne Combined Authority (Jamie Driscoll) won after the election went to the second preference votes round, against the Conservative candidate Charlie Hoult. Turnout for the election was 32.0%, higher than the 25.4% recorded in the metro- mayor election held in 2018. The Labour candidate won in two out of the five local council mayor elections (Leicester and Mansfield). Independent candidates won in Middlesbrough and Copeland, while in Bedford, the Liberal Democrat candidate was elected mayor. In three out of the five elections, a mayor was elected based on first preference ballots. The average turnout for the five mayoral elections was 33.0%. No women or people from a BAME background were elected mayor in this year’s elections; last year, one woman was elected mayor. 15 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

Council mayoral election results

First preference Second preference Total vote Number % Number % Number %

Bedford LD hold Gianni Carofano CON 15,778 32.3% 2,327 37.9% 18,105 45.8% Jenni Jackson LAB 9,677 19.8% Dave Hodgson LD 17,596 36.0% 3,820 62.1% 21,416 54.2% Adrian Spurrell GRN 3,239 6.6% Adrian John Haynes UKIP 2,627 5.4%

Electorate 130,605 Turnout 37.5%

Copeland IND hold Ged McGrath CON 2,895 16.6% A candidate received more than 50% of Linda Jones-Bulman LAB 4,544 26.0% the valid first preference vote and was Mike Starkie IND 10,008 57.4% therefore elected without second preference votes being counted. Electorate 53,012 Turnout 32.9%

Leicester LAB hold Sandip Verma CON 14,519 17.2% Peter Soulsby LAB 51,444 61.0% A candidate received more than 50% of Nigel Porter LD 4,101 4.9% the valid first preference vote and was Margaret Lewis GRN 6,659 7.9% therefore elected without second Stuart Young UKIP 3,526 4.2% preference votes being counted. Stephen Score OTH 1,643 1.9% Sanjay Gogia IND 2,445 2.9%

Electorate 242,598 Turnout 34.8%

Mansfield LAB gain George Jabbour CON 3,592 15.2% Andy Abrahams LAB 6,881 29.2% 1,049 33.7% 7,930 50.01% Kate Allsop OTH 5,860 24.8% 2,068 66.3% 7,928 49.99% Steve Garner IND 4,827 20.5% Philip Shields IND 2,422 10.3%

Electorate 81,076 Turnout 29.1%

Middlesbrough IND gain Ken Hall CON 2,382 8.1% Mick Thompson LAB 6,692 22.7% A candidate received more than 50% of Peter Longstaff IND 2,940 10.0% the valid first preference vote and was Andy Preston IND 17,418 59.2% therefore elected without second preference votes being counted. Electorate 94,709 Turnout 31.1%

Source: Results published online or provided by local authorities

16 Local Elections 2019

5. England: voter ID pilot schemes

In the May 2019 local elections, ten local authorities across England took part in voter ID pilots: • Voters in Pendle and Woking were asked to show photo ID before they were given their ballot papers; • Broxtowe, Craven, Derby, North Kesteven and Braintree required voters to present either one form of photo ID or up to two forms of non-photo ID; • Mid Sussex, Watford and North West Leicestershire tested using poll cards as a means of identification; • Pendle ran a separate postal vote pilot, looking at the security of postal votes and providing additional guidance in postal vote packs.

5.1 Background The Electoral Commission recommended in 2014 that voters in Great Britain should be required to show photo ID before casting a vote at a polling station, as is already the case in Northern Ireland. In 2015, the Commission published a report setting out how a ‘voter ID’ scheme could be implemented across Great Britain. The voter ID models trialled in 2018 and 2019 were based on recommendations made by Sir Eric Pickles in his independent review of electoral fraud. The Government has described the voter ID pilots as providing “further insight into how best to ensure the security of the voting process and reduce the risk of voter fraud.” Critics have argued that particular groups of people are less likely to have the types of ID necessary to vote and risk being effectively disenfranchised. The Electoral Commission reported that following the 2018 local elections, the police investigated 266 allegations of electoral fraud resulting in one conviction and two police cautions. As part of its ‘voter ID scheme’, the Electoral Commission recommended that photographic driving licences, passports, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) cards, military identification cards, police identification cards and firearms licences were acceptable forms of ID for electors. The Electoral Commission estimated how many electors across Great Britain may have access to one of the IDs deemed to be acceptable: • Approximately 3.5m electors (7.5% of the electorate) would have none of the forms of photo ID highlighted, i.e. 92.5% of electors would already have at least one form of acceptable photo ID; • Limiting acceptable ID to passports and photographic driving licences would see potentially 11m electors, or 24% of the electorate, without acceptable ID; • Allowing only passports, photographic driving licences and Oyster Photocards to be used reduce the number of electors without ID to 6m, or 13% of the electorate. 17 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

In the pilots, local authorities issued free photographic IDs to those who did not have suitable forms of identification. Following the 2018 local elections, the Electoral Commission found that “overall, the voter identification requirements trialled in May 2018 worked well.” Voter ID pilots and their evaluation by the Electoral Commission and the Cabinet Office will be discussed in more detail in a forthcoming briefing paper.

5.2 How many people were prevented from voting? The Local Government Chronicle (LGC) reported that in the voter ID pilot areas, more than 800 people were turned away from polling stations for not having the required proof of ID and did not return to vote. This meant that on average, 102 voters in each pilot area failed to vote, compared with 70 per pilot area in 2018. The highest number of people turned away and not coming back to vote was in Derby (256) while the highest proportion was in Craven (0.7%), although data was not yet available for all councils. The LGC further reported that returning officers from pilot areas said most voters had brought ID with them and that turnout was similar to previous local elections. However, they also noted that: While the numbers who did not vote are small, they were potentially significant in cases where the election results came down to a handful of votes. In Mid Sussex, where 78 people didn’t vote after being turned away for not having a poll card or photo ID with them, there were three instances in which a candidate won by less than 25 votes. Subsequent analysis of the pilots by the Cabinet Office shows that the number of people who did not return to vote after being turned away for not having suitable ID varied between 0.03% (Mid Sussex) and 0.7% (Pendle) of voters. The number for each local area is included in the table below. 18 Local Elections 2019

People not returning to vote Having been turned away for not having right ID

% of people turning up at ID type Number polling station Poll card 102 0.21% Watford 33 0.20% Mid Sussex 8 0.03% North West Leicestershire 61 0.40% Mixed ID 515 0.46% Braintree 73 0.30% Craven 49 0.70% North Kesteven 68 0.40% Broxtowe 69 0.30% Derby 256 0.60% Photo ID 123 0.40% Woking 22 0.10% Pendle 101 0.70% Total 740

The Cabinet Office analysis also found increases in voters’ confidence in the electoral process, particularly in areas where photo identification had been trialed (although there was variation between areas). Likewise, the Electoral Commission found that overall, taking part in the pilots had a positive impact on people’s perception of the security of the vote.

5.3 Was turnout affected by the ID requirements? Turnout in the ten local authorities with voter ID pilots was lower than it was at the last comparable local elections in 2015. However, there was a general election that day, which affects turnout. Similarly, in 2011, the AV referendum took place on the same day as the local elections. The table below shows that in most places turnout was also lower than it had been in 2007, when the same seats were up for election and no other elections took place. There was considerable variation between local authorities.

Turnout in the voter ID pilot councils

Turnout % pt change ID requirement 2007 2011 2015 2019 vs. 2007

Derby Piece(s) of ID 35.1% 39.2% 61.1% 35.9% 0.8% Braintree Piece(s) of ID 36.9% 42.8% 62.9% 31.0% -5.9% Broxtowe Piece(s) of ID 44.6% 49.0% 70.9% 40.0% -4.6% Craven Piece(s) of ID 42.8% 45.6% 69.3% 37.0% -5.8% Mid Sussex Polling card 41.5% 48.0% 67.8% 38.5% -3.0% North Kesteven Piece(s) of ID 35.7% 46.8% 60.4% 31.0% -4.7% North West Leicestershire Polling card 41.4% 45.1% 69.4% n/a Pendle Piece(s) of ID 43.0% 43.8% 66.9% 38.0% -5.0% Watford Polling card 34.4% 40.5% 62.7% n/a Woking Piece(s) of ID 43.6% 49.1% 68.2% 36.5% -7.1%

Sources: Local elections handbook2 2007, 2011 and 2015; Jessica Hill, ‘Revealed: hundreds disenfranchised in voter ID pilots’, Local Government Chronicle, 13 May 2019 19 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

6. GB: national share of the vote

Opinion polling aside, it is difficult to get an overview of how much support political parties attract across Great Britain in the years between general elections, because local elections are not held in all local authorities at the same time. Academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher overcome this problem by using the results of local elections to estimate how the major parties would have fared had these elections taken place throughout Great Britain. Rallings and Thrasher’s National Equivalent share of the vote (NEV) is a widely used estimate of where the parties stand in the years between general elections.

Estimated NEV at local elections: Great Britain

50%

40%

LAB

30% CON

20% OTH

10%

0% 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019

The table below shows that Labour and the Conservatives both had an estimated vote share of 31%, down five and six percentage points respectively compared with 2018. The Liberal Democrats’ NEV increased from 14% in 2018 to 17%. The ‘others’ category’s NEV increased from 13% to 21%, the first increase since 2013. ‘Others’ achieved a similar proportion of the NEV in 2015 (22%) and 2016 (21%), and their NEV had been higher before then, peaking at 32% in 2013. This is because the ‘others’ category includes UKIP; in 2013, UKIP attracted 22% of the NEV, with the remaining 10% shared by independents and other parties. By contrast, in 2019 it was the independents and other parties who achieved the larger part of the ‘other’ NEV (17%): UKIP attracted 4%.

20 Local Elections 2019

Estimated NEV at local elections: Great Britain

CON LAB LD OTHERS of which UKIP

1979 45% 38% 14% 3% 1980 40% 42% 13% 5% 1981 38% 41% 17% 4% 1982 40% 29% 27% 4% 1983 39% 36% 20% 5% 1984 38% 37% 21% 4% 1985 32% 39% 26% 3% 1986 34% 37% 26% 3% 1987 38% 32% 27% 3% 1988 39% 38% 18% 5% 1989 36% 42% 19% 3% 1990 33% 44% 17% 6% 1991 35% 38% 22% 5% 1992 46% 30% 20% 4% 1993 31% 39% 25% 5% 1994 28% 40% 27% 5% 1995 25% 47% 23% 5% 1996 29% 43% 24% 4% 1997 31% 44% 17% 8% 1998 33% 37% 25% 5% 1999 34% 36% 25% 5% 2000 38% 30% 26% 6% 2001 33% 42% 19% 6% 2002 34% 33% 25% 8% 2003 35% 30% 27% 8% 2004 37% 26% 27% 10% 2005 33% 36% 23% 8% 2006 39% 26% 25% 10% 2007 40% 26% 24% 10% 2008 43% 24% 23% 10% 2009 35% 22% 25% 18% 2010 37% 30% 24% 10% 2011 38% 37% 16% 9% 2012 33% 39% 15% 13% 2013 26% 29% 13% 32% 22% 2014 30% 31% 11% 28% 18% 2015 36% 32% 10% 22% 12% 2016 32% 33% 14% 21% 12% 2017 39% 28% 18% 15% 4% 2018 37% 36% 14% 13% 2019 31% 31% 17% 21% 4%

Notes: Years with grey shading indicate that a general election was held on the same day and in these years general election vote share is shown. UKIP vote share was calculated between 2013 and 2017 and again in 2019. At the 2017 General Election the GB vote share was 43.4% for the Conservatives, 41.0% Labour, 7.6% Liberal Democrats, and 8% for other parties/independents. Figures for 2015 have been updated following publication of the 2019 analysis.

Sources: Rallings and Thrasher, British Electoral Facts 1832-2012; Rallings and Thrasher, Local Elections Handbook, various years; Rallings and Thrasher, “Voters turned their backs on the main two parties”, Local Government Chronicle, 9 May 2019

21 Commons Library Briefing, 31 July 2019

7. Northern Ireland: councillors

Local elections take place in all local authorities in Northern Ireland every four years. All councillors are elected at the same time, in contrast to England, where a selection of councillors is elected each year. Voters in Northern Ireland vote by ranking all candidates in their area in order of preference. More information about the voting process is available from the BBC. The chart below shows how many councillors each party had following these elections, compared to the 2014 elections. The Democratic Unionist Party remained the largest party in Northern Ireland, winning 122 seats (26% of all seats up for election). This was 8 fewer than in the previous elections. Sinn Féin remained the second largest party, winning 105 seats (23%), the same as in 2014. The Ulster Unionist Party came third with 75 seats (16%), 13 fewer than in 2014.

Northern Ireland local elections 2019 Number of councillors compared with 2014 2014 Others 2019

SDLP

UUP

DUP

0 50 100 150 Source: the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland, BBC, Northern Ireland local elections All councils in Northern Ireland are governed by coalitions of several political parties: none of the parties holds more than half of the seats on any council.

22 Local Elections 2019

8. About the data

Local election results are not collated centrally by an official body. Academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher have compiled Local Elections Handbooks for England each year since 1985. Historic data quoted in this briefing paper is derived, in most cases, from these handbooks; 2019 figures for net change in seats and councils controlled are derived from Rallings and Thrasher’s May 2019 articles in The Sunday Times and Local Government Chronicle. The House of Commons Library has collected 2019 data on the number of seats won or retained by party and resultant council control for those councils in which elections occurred. These have been cross-checked with data collected by the BBC and Press Association. Reported findings may in some cases differ from analysis available elsewhere, as a result of different definitions or reference points used. Local elections results can be analysed by looking at either: a. The total number of councils controlled and councillors a party has at a given time, usually immediately following elections. Chronological comparisons focus on the situation immediately after two or more elections (as in section 4 and the reference tables below); or b. The number of councils won/lost or seats won/lost at any given round of elections. This entails a comparison of the situation immediately before and immediately after these elections (as on the party pages). It is not always possible to compare directly between data based on definitions ‘A’ and ‘B’ as they in effect monitor different things. A party’s number of councillors and number of councils controlled are subject to change between the yearly local elections (for example through defections and by-elections), meaning figures used to calculate net change at an election (‘B’) will not necessarily match with the totals monitored on an annual basis (‘A’). Moreover, we record a party as in control of a council when they hold a majority of seats (i.e. more than 50%). Other organisations may report a party as in control of a council when they hold exactly 50% of seats, or when they hold fewer seats but have reached a governing agreement with another party.

England local elections 2019: Results

Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

District councils B Allerdale NOC 15 14 0 0 0 20 49 31% 29% 0% 0% 0% 41% -2 -14 0 -3 0 12 Amber Valley LAB 19 25 0 0 1 0 45 42% 56% 0% 0% 2% 0% -5 4 0 0 1 0 Arun NOC 21 1 22 0 2 8 54 39% 2% 41% 0% 4% 15% -21 0 17 -4 2 6 Ashfield OTH 3 2 0 0 0 30 35 9% 6% 0% 0% 0% 86% -1 -18 -5 -1 0 25 B Ashford CON 26 7 0 0 2 12 47 55% 15% 0% 0% 4% 26% -8 3 -1 -1 2 9 B Babergh NOC 15 2 3 0 4 8 32 47% 6% 9% 0% 13% 25% -16 1 0 0 4 0 Barrow-in-Furness LAB 12 24 0 0 0 0 36 33% 67% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3 -3 0 0 0 0 Basildon NOC 20 15 0 1 0 6 42 48% 36% 0% 2% 0% 14% 2 6 -1 -10 0 3 Basingstoke and Deane CON 31 21 7 0 0 1 60 52% 35% 12% 0% 0% 2% -1 4 0 0 0 -3 Bassetlaw LAB 5 37 1 0 0 5 48 10% 77% 2% 0% 0% 10% -7 4 1 0 0 2 Blaby CON 25 6 6 0 1 1 39 64% 15% 15% 0% 3% 3% -4 0 2 0 1 1 B Bolsover NOC 2 18 1 0 0 16 37 5% 49% 3% 0% 0% 43% 2 -14 1 0 0 11 Boston CON 16 11 2 1 0 0 30 53% 37% 7% 3% 0% 0% 3 9 2 -12 0 -2 B Braintree CON 34 2 0 0 6 7 49 69% 4% 0% 0% 12% 14% -10 0 0 0 5 5 Breckland CON 37 6 0 0 2 4 49 76% 12% 0% 0% 4% 8% -5 4 0 -4 2 3 Brentwood CON 20 3 13 0 0 1 37 54% 8% 35% 0% 0% 3% -3 1 3 0 0 -1 Broadland CON 32 2 12 0 0 1 47 68% 4% 26% 0% 0% 2% -11 2 8 0 0 1 Bromsgrove CON 17 5 3 0 0 6 31 55% 16% 10% 0% 0% 19% -1 -2 3 0 0 0 Broxbourne CON 27 2 0 0 0 1 30 90% 7% 0% 0% 0% 3% 3 -1 0 -1 0 -1 Broxtowe NOC 20 14 5 0 0 3 2 44 45% 32% 11% 0% 0% 7% -7 2 1 0 0 2 Burnley NOC 4 22 8 3 2 6 45 9% 49% 18% 7% 4% 13% -1 -7 -2 2 2 6 Cambridge LAB 0 26 15 0 0 1 42 0% 62% 36% 0% 0% 2% -1 2 1 0 -1 -1 Cannock Chase NOC 15 18 2 0 5 1 41 37% 44% 5% 0% 12% 2% 3 -4 1 -5 5 0 B Canterbury CON 23 10 6 0 0 0 39 59% 26% 15% 0% 0% 0% -8 7 3 -2 0 0 B Carlisle NOC 17 15 1 1 1 4 39 44% 38% 3% 3% 3% 10% -3 -14 0 1 1 2 Castle Point CON 25 0 0 0 0 16 41 61% 0% 0% 0% 0% 39% 3 0 0 -5 0 2 Charnwood CON 36 13 0 0 1 2 52 69% 25% 0% 0% 2% 4% -5 4 -1 0 1 1 Chelmsford LD 21 0 31 0 0 5 57 37% 0% 54% 0% 0% 9% -31 0 26 0 0 5 B Cherwell CON 32 9 2 0 1 4 48 67% 19% 4% 0% 2% 8% -9 2 1 0 1 3 Chesterfield LAB 0 28 17 0 0 3 48 0% 58% 35% 0% 0% 6% 0 -10 8 -1 0 3 B Chichester NOC 18 2 11 0 2 3 36 50% 6% 31% 0% 6% 8% -24 2 8 0 2 0 Chorley LAB 8 37 0 0 0 2 47 17% 79% 0% 0% 0% 4% -6 6 0 0 0 0 B Colchester NOC 23 11 13 0 1 3 51 45% 22% 25% 0% 2% 6% -4 2 -7 0 1 -1 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

District councils B Copeland LAB 10 19 0 0 0 4 33 30% 58% 0% 0% 0% 12% -7 -10 0 0 0 -1 Cotswold LD 14 0 18 0 1 1 34 41% 0% 53% 0% 3% 3% -10 0 8 0 1 1 Craven NOC 15 3 1 0 2 9 30 50% 10% 3% 0% 7% 30% -5 1 0 -1 2 3 B Crawley LAB 17 19 0 0 0 0 36 47% 53% 0% 0% 0% 0% -1 0 0 0 0 0 Dacorum CON 31 0 19 0 0 1 51 61% 0% 37% 0% 0% 2% -15 -2 16 0 0 1 B Dartford CON 29 10 0 0 0 3 42 69% 24% 0% 0% 0% 7% -5 3 0 0 0 0 Derbyshire Dales CON 20 6 8 0 2 3 39 51% 15% 21% 0% 5% 8% -9 1 5 0 2 1 B Dover CON 19 12 0 0 0 1 32 59% 38% 0% 0% 0% 3% -6 -5 0 -3 0 1 B East Cambridgeshire CON 15 0 13 0 0 0 28 54% 0% 46% 0% 0% 0% -21 0 11 0 0 -1 B East Devon NOC 19 0 8 0 2 31 60 32% 0% 13% 0% 3% 52% -18 0 2 0 2 15 B East Hampshire CON 32 2 7 0 0 2 43 74% 5% 16% 0% 0% 5% -10 2 5 0 0 2 B East Hertfordshire CON 40 2 6 0 2 0 50 80% 4% 12% 0% 4% 0% -10 2 6 0 2 0 East Lindsey CON 29 7 1 0 0 18 55 53% 13% 2% 0% 0% 33% -4 3 0 -8 0 9 East Staffordshire CON 25 10 1 0 0 3 39 64% 26% 3% 0% 0% 8% 0 -2 0 -1 0 3 B East Suffolk CON 39 7 3 0 4 2 55 71% 13% 5% 0% 7% 4% B Eastbourne LD 9 0 18 0 0 0 27 33% 0% 67% 0% 0% 0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 B Eastleigh LD 2 0 34 0 0 3 39 5% 0% 87% 0% 0% 8% -4 0 -4 0 0 3 Eden NOC 14 2 10 0 2 10 38 37% 5% 26% 0% 5% 26% -7 2 3 0 2 0 B Elmbridge NOC 21 0 10 0 0 17 48 44% 0% 21% 0% 0% 35% -12 0 3 0 0 -3 Epping Forest CON 37 0 3 0 3 15 58 64% 0% 5% 0% 5% 26% -1 0 0 -2 2 1 Epsom and Ewell OTH 1 3 2 0 0 32 38 3% 8% 5% 0% 0% 84% -3 0 2 0 0 1 Erewash CON 27 19 1 0 0 0 47 57% 40% 2% 0% 0% 0% -3 2 1 0 0 0 B Exeter LAB 6 29 2 0 1 1 39 15% 74% 5% 0% 3% 3% -4 0 1 0 1 1 Fenland CON 26 0 2 0 1 10 39 67% 0% 5% 0% 3% 26% -8 0 0 0 1 7 B Folkestone and Hythe NOC 13 6 2 2 6 1 30 43% 20% 7% 7% 20% 3% -9 5 2 -5 6 1 B Forest of Dean NOC 10 5 0 0 6 14 35 29% 14% 0% 0% 17% 40% -11 -8 0 -7 5 8 Fylde CON 31 0 1 0 0 19 51 61% 0% 2% 0% 0% 37% -1 -1 -1 0 0 3 Gedling LAB 8 29 2 0 0 2 41 20% 71% 5% 0% 0% 5% -7 4 1 0 0 2 Gravesham LAB 18 24 0 0 0 2 44 41% 55% 0% 0% 0% 5% -5 3 0 0 0 2 Great Yarmouth CON 20 15 0 1 0 3 39 51% 38% 0% 3% 0% 8% 6 1 0 -9 0 2 Guildford NOC 9 2 17 0 1 19 48 19% 4% 35% 0% 2% 40% -26 1 8 0 1 16 Hambleton CON 24 1 1 0 0 2 28 86% 4% 4% 0% 0% 7% -3 1 1 -1 0 2 B Harborough CON 22 1 11 0 0 0 34 65% 3% 32% 0% 0% 0% -7 -7 11 0 0 0 Harlow LAB 13 20 0 0 0 0 33 39% 61% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 1 0 -2 0 0 Hart NOC 11 0 10 0 0 12 33 33% 0% 30% 0% 0% 36% -5 0 2 0 0 3 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

District councils Havant CON 33 2 1 2 0 0 38 87% 5% 3% 5% 0% 0% 2 -2 0 0 0 0 B Hertsmere CON 29 7 3 0 0 0 39 74% 18% 8% 0% 0% 0% -8 5 3 0 0 0 High Peak LAB 16 22 3 0 2 0 43 37% 51% 7% 0% 5% 0% -7 5 1 0 2 -1 Hinckley and Bosworth LD 11 2 21 0 0 0 34 32% 6% 62% 0% 0% 0% -10 1 9 0 0 0 B Horsham CON 32 0 13 0 2 1 48 67% 0% 27% 0% 4% 2% -7 0 9 0 2 0 Hyndburn LAB 9 26 0 0 0 0 35 26% 74% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 1 0 -2 0 0 Ipswich LAB 9 36 3 0 0 0 48 19% 75% 6% 0% 0% 0% -6 5 1 0 0 0 B King's Lynn and West Norfolk CON 28 10 1 0 1 15 55 51% 18% 2% 0% 2% 27% -22 0 1 0 1 13 Lancaster NOC 12 21 3 0 10 14 60 20% 35% 5% 0% 17% 23% -7 -8 3 0 1 11 B Lewes NOC 19 3 8 0 9 2 41 46% 7% 20% 0% 22% 5% -5 3 -3 -1 6 0 Lichfield CON 34 10 1 0 0 2 47 72% 21% 2% 0% 0% 4% -4 5 0 -3 0 2 B Lincoln LAB 9 24 0 0 0 0 33 27% 73% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2 -2 0 0 0 0 Maidstone NOC 24 4 20 0 0 7 55 44% 7% 36% 0% 0% 13% -1 2 0 -2 0 1 Maldon CON 17 0 0 0 0 14 31 55% 0% 0% 0% 0% 45% -11 0 0 -1 0 12 Malvern Hills NOC 13 1 9 0 5 10 38 34% 3% 24% 0% 13% 26% -10 1 4 0 2 3 Mansfield NOC 2 15 0 0 0 19 36 6% 42% 0% 0% 0% 53% 2 -4 0 -2 0 4 Melton CON 22 0 0 0 1 5 28 79% 0% 0% 0% 4% 18% -4 0 0 0 1 3 Mendip NOC 10 0 22 0 10 5 47 21% 0% 47% 0% 21% 11% -22 0 11 0 7 4 Mid Devon NOC 18 0 12 0 2 10 42 43% 0% 29% 0% 5% 24% -10 0 7 -2 2 3 B Mid Suffolk NOC 16 0 5 0 12 1 34 47% 0% 15% 0% 35% 3% -13 0 1 0 7 -1 Mid Sussex CON 34 0 13 0 3 4 54 63% 0% 24% 0% 6% 7% -20 0 13 0 3 4 Mole Valley LD 12 0 22 0 0 7 41 29% 0% 54% 0% 0% 17% -11 0 12 0 0 1 New Forest CON 46 0 13 0 0 1 60 77% 0% 22% 0% 0% 2% -12 0 11 0 0 1 B Newark and Sherwood CON 27 7 2 0 0 3 39 69% 18% 5% 0% 0% 8% 3 -5 2 0 0 0 B North Devon LD 11 0 21 0 2 7 41 27% 0% 51% 0% 5% 17% -8 0 9 -1 2 -4 B North East Derbyshire CON 30 18 3 0 0 2 53 57% 34% 6% 0% 0% 4% 12 -16 3 0 0 1 North Hertfordshire NOC 22 16 11 0 0 0 49 45% 33% 22% 0% 0% 0% -14 5 9 0 0 0 North Kesteven NOC 20 0 0 0 0 22 1 43 47% 0% 0% 0% 0% 51% -8 0 0 0 0 7 B North Norfolk LD 6 0 30 0 0 4 40 15% 0% 75% 0% 0% 10% -27 0 15 0 0 4 North Warwickshire CON 21 14 0 0 0 0 35 60% 40% 0% 0% 0% 0% -1 1 0 0 0 0 North West Leicestershire CON 20 10 4 0 1 3 38 53% 26% 11% 0% 3% 8% -5 0 3 0 1 1 B Norwich LAB 0 27 3 0 9 0 39 0% 69% 8% 0% 23% 0% 0 6 0 0 -6 0 Oadby and Wigston LD 2 0 24 0 0 0 26 8% 0% 92% 0% 0% 0% -4 -1 5 0 0 0 Pendle NOC 23 16 10 0 0 0 49 47% 33% 20% 0% 0% 0% 4 -2 -1 0 0 -1 B Preston LAB 9 30 9 0 0 0 48 19% 63% 19% 0% 0% 0% -10 -2 4 0 0 -1 Redditch CON 18 11 0 0 0 0 29 62% 38% 0% 0% 0% 0% 6 -5 0 -1 0 0 B Reigate and Banstead CON 29 0 3 0 6 7 45 64% 0% 7% 0% 13% 16% -11 0 2 -1 4 0 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

District councils B Ribble Valley CON 28 0 10 0 0 2 40 70% 0% 25% 0% 0% 5% -7 -1 6 0 0 2 B Richmondshire NOC 10 0 3 0 1 10 24 42% 0% 13% 0% 4% 42% -11 0 1 0 1 -1 B Rochford CON 26 0 3 0 3 7 39 67% 0% 8% 0% 8% 18% -3 -1 1 -3 1 5 Rossendale LAB 13 19 0 0 0 4 36 36% 53% 0% 0% 0% 11% -2 0 0 0 0 2 B Rother NOC 14 3 7 0 1 13 38 37% 8% 18% 0% 3% 34% -17 2 5 0 1 9 Rugby CON 24 9 9 0 0 0 42 57% 21% 21% 0% 0% 0% 2 -2 2 0 0 -2 B Runnymede CON 26 2 3 0 1 9 41 63% 5% 7% 0% 2% 22% -10 2 3 0 1 3 Rushcliffe CON 29 7 3 0 2 3 44 66% 16% 7% 0% 5% 7% -5 3 1 0 0 1 Rushmoor CON 26 11 2 0 0 0 39 67% 28% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0 0 2 -2 0 0 Ryedale NOC 12 0 2 0 0 16 30 40% 0% 7% 0% 0% 53% -8 0 0 0 0 8 B Scarborough NOC 16 13 0 1 2 14 46 35% 28% 0% 2% 4% 30% -10 -1 0 -4 0 11 Sedgemoor CON 28 12 7 0 0 1 48 58% 25% 15% 0% 0% 2% -7 2 6 -2 0 1 Selby CON 16 8 0 0 0 7 31 52% 26% 0% 0% 0% 23% -6 0 0 0 0 6 B Sevenoaks CON 46 1 3 0 0 4 54 85% 2% 6% 0% 0% 7% -3 0 1 -1 0 3 B Somerset West and Taunton LD 10 3 30 0 2 14 59 17% 5% 51% 0% 3% 24% South Derbyshire CON 22 14 0 0 0 0 36 61% 39% 0% 0% 0% 0% -2 2 0 0 0 0 South Hams CON 16 0 10 0 3 2 31 52% 0% 32% 0% 10% 6% -9 -1 8 0 0 2 South Holland CON 24 0 0 0 0 13 37 65% 0% 0% 0% 0% 35% -4 0 0 -2 0 6 South Kesteven CON 40 3 1 0 0 12 56 71% 5% 2% 0% 0% 21% -4 0 1 -1 0 7 B South Lakeland LD 15 3 32 0 1 0 51 29% 6% 63% 0% 2% 0% 0 0 0 0 1 -1 B South Norfolk CON 35 1 10 0 0 0 46 76% 2% 22% 0% 0% 0% -5 1 4 0 0 0 B South Oxfordshire NOC 10 3 12 0 5 6 36 28% 8% 33% 0% 14% 17% -23 2 11 0 5 5 South Ribble NOC 21 22 5 0 0 0 2 50 42% 44% 10% 0% 0% 0% -8 3 3 0 0 0 B South Somerset LD 15 0 41 0 0 4 60 25% 0% 68% 0% 0% 7% -13 0 12 0 0 1 South Staffordshire CON 35 1 0 1 3 7 2 49 71% 2% 0% 2% 6% 14% -8 0 0 0 3 3 Spelthorne CON 23 4 8 0 2 2 39 59% 10% 21% 0% 5% 5% -12 3 5 0 2 2 St Albans NOC 23 6 25 0 1 3 58 40% 10% 43% 0% 2% 5% -9 -2 9 0 0 2 Stafford CON 22 10 0 0 1 7 40 55% 25% 0% 0% 3% 18% -7 1 0 0 1 5 Staffordshire Moorlands NOC 25 13 1 0 0 17 56 45% 23% 2% 0% 0% 30% -10 6 -1 -2 0 7 Stevenage LAB 7 27 5 0 0 0 39 18% 69% 13% 0% 0% 0% 1 -3 2 0 0 0 Stratford-upon-Avon CON 20 0 11 0 1 4 36 56% 0% 31% 0% 3% 11% -11 -1 8 0 1 3 B Surrey Heath CON 18 1 10 0 2 4 35 51% 3% 29% 0% 6% 11% -18 0 9 0 2 2 Swale NOC 16 11 5 1 2 12 47 34% 23% 11% 2% 4% 26% -16 7 5 -8 2 10 Tamworth CON 22 5 0 2 0 1 30 73% 17% 0% 7% 0% 3% 4 -6 0 1 0 1 Tandridge NOC 16 0 11 0 0 15 42 38% 0% 26% 0% 0% 36% 16 -36 11 -5 0 14 B Teignbridge LD 12 0 26 0 0 9 47 26% 0% 55% 0% 0% 19% -17 0 15 0 0 3 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

District councils B Tendring NOC 16 6 2 5 0 17 46 35% 13% 4% 11% 0% 37% -7 2 1 -17 0 7 B Test Valley CON 24 0 12 0 0 7 43 56% 0% 28% 0% 0% 16% -14 0 3 0 0 6 B Tewkesbury CON 23 0 8 0 1 6 38 61% 0% 21% 0% 3% 16% -10 0 5 0 1 4 Thanet NOC 25 20 0 0 3 8 56 45% 36% 0% 0% 5% 14% 7 16 0 -33 3 7 Three Rivers LD 12 3 24 0 0 0 39 31% 8% 62% 0% 0% 0% -5 0 5 0 0 0 B Tonbridge and Malling CON 39 1 9 0 2 3 54 72% 2% 17% 0% 4% 6% -9 1 5 0 2 1 B Torridge NOC 11 3 2 0 2 18 36 31% 8% 6% 0% 6% 50% -8 2 1 -7 0 12 Tunbridge Wells CON 28 4 9 0 0 7 48 58% 8% 19% 0% 0% 15% -14 2 6 0 0 6 Uttlesford OTH 4 0 7 0 0 28 39 10% 0% 18% 0% 0% 72% -19 0 1 0 0 18 B Vale of White Horse LD 6 0 31 0 1 0 38 16% 0% 82% 0% 3% 0% -23 0 22 0 1 0 B Warwick NOC 19 5 9 0 8 3 44 43% 11% 20% 0% 18% 7% -12 -4 7 0 7 0 B Watford LD 0 10 26 0 0 0 36 0% 28% 72% 0% 0% 0% -5 -3 8 0 0 0 Waverley NOC 23 2 14 0 2 16 57 40% 4% 25% 0% 4% 28% -30 2 14 0 2 12 B Wealden CON 34 0 4 0 2 5 45 76% 0% 9% 0% 4% 11% -16 0 4 0 2 0 B Welwyn Hatfield NOC 23 13 12 0 0 0 48 48% 27% 25% 0% 0% 0% -8 -1 10 0 0 -1 West Devon CON 16 0 2 0 2 11 31 52% 0% 6% 0% 6% 35% -5 0 2 0 2 1 West Lancashire LAB 19 29 0 0 0 6 54 35% 54% 0% 0% 0% 11% -4 -1 0 0 0 5 West Lindsey CON 19 0 12 0 0 5 36 53% 0% 33% 0% 0% 14% -5 -3 5 0 0 3 West Oxfordshire CON 28 9 10 0 0 2 49 57% 18% 20% 0% 0% 4% -12 5 6 0 0 1 B West Suffolk CON 36 5 0 0 1 22 64 56% 8% 0% 0% 2% 34% B Winchester LD 18 0 27 0 0 0 45 40% 0% 60% 0% 0% 0% -15 -2 5 0 0 0 B Woking NOC 14 3 10 0 0 3 30 47% 10% 33% 0% 0% 10% -10 1 1 0 0 2 Worcester NOC 17 15 0 0 3 0 35 49% 43% 0% 0% 9% 0% -1 0 0 0 2 -1 Worthing CON 22 10 3 1 0 1 37 59% 27% 8% 3% 0% 3% -8 10 -1 -1 -1 1 Wychavon CON 36 0 6 0 2 1 45 80% 0% 13% 0% 4% 2% -3 0 1 -1 2 1 Wyre CON 37 9 0 4 0 0 50 74% 18% 0% 8% 0% 0% 1 -5 0 4 0 0 Wyre Forest NOC 14 2 3 0 1 13 33 42% 6% 9% 0% 3% 39% -7 0 3 -1 1 7

Total District Councils 3,312 1,354 1,222 26 202 989 7 7,112 47% 19% 17% 0% 3% 14% -1135 -30 +530 -186 +136 +455 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

Metropolitan Boroughs Barnsley LAB 3 49 4 0 0 7 0 63 5% 78% 6% 0% 0% 11% -1 -6 4 0 0 3 Bolton NOC 20 23 6 3 0 8 0 60 33% 38% 10% 5% 0% 13% 6 -17 3 0 0 8 Bradford LAB 22 52 9 0 2 5 0 90 24% 58% 10% 0% 2% 6% -1 6 0 -1 -1 -3 Bury LAB 16 29 4 0 0 2 0 51 31% 57% 8% 0% 0% 4% 4 -6 2 0 0 0 Calderdale LAB 14 28 7 0 0 2 0 51 27% 55% 14% 0% 0% 4% -7 7 2 0 0 1 Coventry LAB 13 40 0 0 0 1 0 54 24% 74% 0% 0% 0% 2% 1 -2 0 0 0 1 Dudley NOC 36 36 0 0 0 0 0 72 50% 50% 0% 0% 0% 0% 11 -2 0 -7 -1 -1 Gateshead LAB 0 52 14 0 0 0 0 66 0% 79% 21% 0% 0% 0% 0 -3 3 0 0 0 Kirklees LAB 16 36 10 0 3 4 0 69 23% 52% 14% 0% 4% 6% -2 2 0 0 -1 1 B Knowsley LAB 0 37 3 0 3 2 0 45 0% 82% 7% 0% 7% 4% 0 -26 3 0 3 2 B Leeds LAB 23 57 8 0 3 8 0 99 23% 58% 8% 0% 3% 8% 4 -6 -1 0 0 3 Liverpool LAB 0 72 10 0 4 4 0 90 0% 80% 11% 0% 4% 4% 0 -9 8 0 0 1 B Manchester LAB 0 93 3 0 0 0 0 96 0% 97% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0 -2 3 0 0 -1 B Newcastle upon Tyne LAB 0 54 20 0 0 4 0 78 0% 69% 26% 0% 0% 5% 0 1 -2 0 0 1 North Tyneside LAB 7 51 1 0 0 1 0 60 12% 85% 2% 0% 0% 2% -2 2 -1 0 0 1 Oldham LAB 4 45 8 0 0 3 0 60 7% 75% 13% 0% 0% 5% 2 0 -2 -2 0 2 Rochdale LAB 9 47 4 0 0 0 0 60 15% 78% 7% 0% 0% 0% -1 0 2 0 0 -1 Salford LAB 9 50 0 0 0 1 0 60 15% 83% 0% 0% 0% 2% 1 -2 0 0 0 1 Sandwell LAB 0 72 0 0 0 0 0 72 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0 3 0 -1 0 -2 Sefton LAB 6 43 12 0 0 5 0 66 9% 65% 18% 0% 0% 8% -1 1 -4 0 0 4 B Sheffield LAB 0 49 26 1 8 0 0 84 0% 58% 31% 1% 10% 0% 0 -10 9 -3 4 0 Solihull CON 26 3 6 0 14 2 0 51 51% 6% 12% 0% 27% 4% -6 2 0 -2 5 1 South Tyneside LAB 1 48 0 0 1 4 0 54 2% 89% 0% 0% 2% 7% 0 -4 0 0 1 3 St. Helens LAB 3 37 4 0 2 2 0 48 6% 77% 8% 0% 4% 4% 0 -5 1 0 2 2 Stockport NOC 8 26 26 0 0 3 0 63 13% 41% 41% 0% 0% 5% -5 5 0 0 0 0 Sunderland LAB 12 51 8 3 1 0 0 75 16% 68% 11% 4% 1% 0% 6 -15 8 3 1 -3 Tameside LAB 5 51 0 0 1 0 0 57 9% 89% 0% 0% 2% 0% 0 -1 0 0 1 0 Trafford LAB 20 36 4 0 3 0 0 63 32% 57% 6% 0% 5% 0% -14 10 1 0 3 0 Wakefield LAB 11 49 1 0 0 2 0 63 17% 78% 2% 0% 0% 3% 5 -5 1 -2 0 1 Walsall CON 32 26 2 0 0 0 0 60 53% 43% 3% 0% 0% 0% 8 -2 0 -3 0 -3 Wigan LAB 8 57 0 0 0 10 0 75 11% 76% 0% 0% 0% 13% 5 -7 0 0 0 2 Wirral NOC 22 32 6 0 3 3 0 66 33% 48% 9% 0% 5% 5% 1 -7 1 0 2 3 Wolverhampton LAB 10 50 0 0 0 0 0 60 17% 83% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0 2 -1 -1 0 0

Total Metropolitan Boroughs 356 1,481 206 7 48 83 0 2,181 16% 68% 9% 0% 2% 4% +14 -96 +40 -19 +19 +27 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

Unitary Authorities B Bath and North East SomersetLD 11 5 37 0 0 6 59 19% 8% 63% 0% 0% 10% -26 -1 22 0 -2 1 Bedford NOC 11 11 15 0 2 1 40 28% 28% 38% 0% 5% 3% -4 -2 5 0 2 -1 Blackpool LAB 15 23 0 0 0 4 42 36% 55% 0% 0% 0% 10% 2 -6 0 0 0 4 B Bournemouth, Christchurch anNOC 36 3 15 1 2 19 76 47% 4% 20% 1% 3% 25% Bracknell Forest CON 38 3 1 0 0 0 42 90% 7% 2% 0% 0% 0% -3 2 1 0 0 0 Brighton and Hove NOC 14 20 0 0 19 1 54 26% 37% 0% 0% 35% 2% -6 -3 0 0 8 1 B Central Bedfordshire CON 41 1 3 1 0 13 59 69% 2% 5% 2% 0% 22% -12 -1 2 1 0 10 Cheshire East NOC 34 25 4 0 0 19 82 41% 30% 5% 0% 0% 23% -18 10 2 0 -1 7 B Cheshire West and Chester NOC 28 35 2 0 1 4 70 40% 50% 3% 0% 1% 6% -8 -3 2 0 1 3 Darlington NOC 22 20 3 0 2 3 50 44% 40% 6% 0% 4% 6% 5 -9 0 0 2 2 B Dorset CON 43 2 29 0 4 4 82 52% 2% 35% 0% 5% 5% East Riding of Yorkshire CON 49 0 8 0 0 10 67 73% 0% 12% 0% 0% 15% -2 -6 6 -3 0 5 B Herefordshire NOC 13 0 6 0 7 26 52 25% 0% 12% 0% 13% 50% -15 0 4 0 5 6 Leicester LAB 0 53 1 0 0 0 54 0% 98% 2% 0% 0% 0% -1 1 0 0 0 0 Luton LAB 4 32 12 0 0 0 48 8% 67% 25% 0% 0% 0% -1 -3 4 0 0 0 Medway CON 33 20 0 0 0 2 55 60% 36% 0% 0% 0% 4% -3 5 0 -4 0 2 Middlesbrough NOC 3 20 0 0 0 23 46 7% 43% 0% 0% 0% 50% -1 -13 0 0 0 14 North Lincolnshire CON 27 16 0 0 0 0 43 63% 37% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 -1 0 0 0 0 North Somerset NOC 13 6 11 0 3 17 50 26% 12% 22% 0% 6% 34% -23 3 7 0 2 11 B Nottingham LAB 2 50 0 0 0 3 55 4% 91% 0% 0% 0% 5% -1 -2 0 0 0 3 B Redcar and Cleveland NOC 11 15 13 2 0 18 59 19% 25% 22% 3% 0% 31% -2 -14 2 1 0 10 B Rutland CON 15 0 3 0 1 8 27 56% 0% 11% 0% 4% 30% -1 0 1 -1 1 1 B South Gloucestershire CON 33 11 17 0 0 0 61 54% 18% 28% 0% 0% 0% -7 -3 1 0 0 0 Stockton-on-Tees NOC 14 24 2 0 0 16 56 25% 43% 4% 0% 0% 29% 1 -8 1 0 0 6 Stoke-on-Trent NOC 15 16 0 0 0 13 44 34% 36% 0% 0% 0% 30% 8 -5 0 -2 0 -1 Telford and The Wrekin LAB 13 36 4 0 0 1 54 24% 67% 7% 0% 0% 2% -10 9 1 0 0 0 B Torbay NOC 15 0 13 0 0 8 36 42% 0% 36% 0% 0% 22% -10 0 6 -1 0 5 B West Berkshire CON 24 0 16 0 3 0 43 56% 0% 37% 0% 7% 0% -24 0 12 0 3 0 B Windsor and Maidenhead CON 23 0 9 0 0 9 41 56% 0% 22% 0% 0% 22% -31 0 8 0 0 7 York NOC 2 17 21 0 4 3 47 4% 36% 45% 0% 9% 6% -12 2 9 0 0 1 B Blackburn with Darwen LAB 13 36 2 0 0 0 51 25% 71% 4% 0% 0% 0% -1 -11 -1 0 0 0 Derby NOC 20 16 7 5 0 3 51 39% 31% 14% 10% 0% 6% 6 -13 1 3 0 3 Halton LAB 2 51 3 0 0 0 56 4% 91% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0 -1 1 0 0 0 Hartlepool NOC 3 13 0 1 0 16 33 9% 39% 0% 3% 0% 48% 0 -9 0 -1 0 10 B Hull LAB 2 31 24 0 0 0 57 4% 54% 42% 0% 0% 0% 0 -9 9 -1 0 -1 Milton Keynes NOC 19 23 15 0 0 0 57 33% 40% 26% 0% 0% 0% -3 0 3 0 0 0 Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH Vacant Total CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH CON LAB LD UKIP GRN OTH

Unitary Authorities North East Lincolnshire CON 23 14 4 1 0 0 42 55% 33% 10% 2% 0% 0% 13 -6 1 -8 0 0 B Peterborough NOC 28 17 9 0 2 4 60 47% 28% 15% 0% 3% 7% 1 5 5 -4 2 -6 Plymouth LAB 25 31 0 0 0 1 57 44% 54% 0% 0% 0% 2% -1 3 0 -3 0 1 Portsmouth NOC 16 6 18 0 0 2 42 38% 14% 43% 0% 0% 5% -1 2 4 -5 0 0 Reading LAB 10 30 2 0 4 0 46 22% 65% 4% 0% 9% 0% 0 -1 0 0 1 0 Slough LAB 5 37 0 0 0 0 42 12% 88% 0% 0% 0% 0% -4 5 0 -1 0 0 Southampton LAB 18 29 0 0 0 1 48 38% 60% 0% 0% 0% 2% -2 3 0 0 0 -1 Southend-on-Sea NOC 20 14 5 0 0 12 51 39% 27% 10% 0% 0% 24% -2 5 1 -5 0 1 Swindon CON 31 24 2 0 0 0 57 54% 42% 4% 0% 0% 0% -1 1 0 0 0 0 Thurrock NOC 22 17 0 0 0 10 49 45% 35% 0% 0% 0% 20% 5 -1 0 -13 0 9 Wokingham CON 31 4 16 0 0 3 54 57% 7% 30% 0% 0% 6% -16 3 11 0 0 2

Total Unitary Authorities 890 857 352 11 54 283 0 2,447 36% 35% 14% 0% 2% 12% -210 -72 +131 -47 +24 +115

Sources: local council websites; BBC

Notes: B indicates that a boundary change has occurred in the local authority since 2015 Folkestone and Hythe was renamed in April 2018, it was formerly called Shepway English council control immediately after local elections

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

London boroughs CON 8 14 14 14 14 11 11 11 11 9 9 9 9 7 7 LAB 15 7 7 7 7 17 17 17 17 20 20 21 21 21 21 LD 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 OTH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NOC 6 8 8 8 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

Counties CON 23 23 23 23 26 26 26 26 16 16 16 16 24 24 23 LAB 6 6 6 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 LD 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OTH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NOC 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 9 9 9 10 3 3 3

Metropolitan boroughs CON 4 5 4 6 6 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 LAB 16 15 13 12 12 16 24 29 29 30 30 29 29 30 30 LD 3 3 4 4 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OTH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NOC 13 13 15 14 13 15 9 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 4

Shire districts CON 109 114 145 151 137 135 136 131 131 119 146 143 143 143 95 LAB 22 18 13 12 5 7 19 31 32 33 30 30 29 27 25 LD 17 19 18 18 15 18 11 9 9 9 5 6 7 8 19 OTH 7 5 5 5 4 4 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 5 NOC 83 82 57 52 40 37 34 29 28 39 18 21 20 22 48

Unitary authorities CON 11 12 18 19 24 24 23 20 20 18 19 21 22 23 16 LAB 12 8 9 8 9 10 17 23 23 21 18 19 20 20 15 LD 5 4 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 OTH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NOC 18 22 18 18 19 18 14 11 11 16 18 15 13 12 23

Source: Rallings and Thrasher, Local Elections Handbooks 2005-2016 and Local Government Chronicle articles Northern Ireland local elections 2019: Results

Council composition (post May 2019 elections) Share of seats (%) Total councillors compared with 2015 Authority DUP SF UUP SDLP AP OTH Total DUP SF UUP SDLP AP OTH DUP SF UUP SDLP AP OTH

Antrim and Newtownabbey 14 5 9 4 7 1 40 35% 13% 23% 10% 18% 3% -1 2 -3 0 3 -1 Ards and North Down 14 0 8 1 10 7 40 35% 0% 20% 3% 25% 18% -3 0 -1 0 3 1 Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon 11 10 10 6 3 1 41 27% 24% 24% 15% 7% 2% -2 2 -2 0 3 -1 Belfast 15 18 2 6 10 9 60 25% 30% 3% 10% 17% 15% 2 -1 -5 -1 2 3 Causeway Coast and Glens 14 9 7 6 2 2 40 35% 23% 18% 15% 5% 5% 3 2 -3 0 1 -3 Derry and Strabane 7 11 2 11 2 7 40 18% 28% 5% 28% 5% 18% -1 -5 0 1 2 3 Fermanagh and Omagh 5 15 9 5 1 5 40 13% 38% 23% 13% 3% 13% 0 -2 0 -3 1 4 Lisburn and Castlereagh 15 2 11 2 9 1 40 38% 5% 28% 5% 23% 3% -5 2 3 -1 2 -1 Mid and East Antrim 15 2 7 1 7 8 40 38% 5% 18% 3% 18% 20% -1 -1 -2 0 4 0 Mid Ulster 9 17 6 6 0 2 40 23% 43% 15% 15% 0% 5% 1 -1 -1 0 0 1 Newry, Mourne and Down 3 16 4 11 2 5 41 7% 39% 10% 27% 5% 12% -1 2 1 -3 0 1

Total Northern Ireland 122 105 75 59 53 48 462 26% 23% 16% 13% 11% 10% -8 0 -13 -7 21 7

Sources: the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland; BBC 26 Local Elections 2019

About the Library The House of Commons Library research service provides MPs and their staff with the impartial briefing and evidence base they need to do their work in scrutinising Government, proposing legislation, and supporting constituents. As well as providing MPs with a confidential service we publish open briefing papers, which are available on the Parliament website. Every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in these publicly available research briefings is correct at the time of publication. Readers should be aware however that briefings are not necessarily updated or otherwise amended to reflect subsequent changes. If you have any comments on our briefings please email [email protected]. Authors are available to discuss the content of this briefing only with Members and their staff. If you have any general questions about the work of the House of Commons you can email [email protected]. Disclaimer This information is provided to Members of Parliament in support of their parliamentary duties. It is a general briefing only and should not be relied on as a substitute for specific advice. The House of Commons or the author(s) shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any loss or damage of any kind arising from its use, and may remove, vary or amend any information at any time without prior notice. BRIEFING PAPER The House of Commons accepts no responsibility for any references or links to, or the content of, information maintained by third parties. This information is Number CBP 8566 provided subject to the conditions of the Open Parliament Licence. 31 July 2019