Local and mayoral elections 2024: Why they matter and what to look out for
Sir John Curtice and Sarah Calkin join IfG experts to discuss what is at stake and what to expect in the elections on 2 May.
On Thursday 2 May 2024, voters across England and Wales will head to the polls in a major set of local and mayoral elections. The highest-profile contests will be the election of 10 influential metro mayors – including in Greater London and across the north and the midlands. Together these leaders will be responsible for over £25bn of public spending and will play a vital role in shaping the fortunes of the places they represent.
Thousands of councillors in over 100 local areas across England are also up for election, with the successful candidates taking responsibility for key public services at a time of acute financial pressures across local government. Voters will also elect 37 police and crime commissioners and the 25 members of the London Assembly.
These elections are far more important than just providing a straw in the wind for the general election to come. To discuss why these elections matter and what to expect, the Institute for Government is hosting a public event with expert panellists including:
- Sarah Calkin, Editor of the Local Government Chronicle
- Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University and Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research
- Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
The event will be chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.
The discussion will be followed by a networking reception over drinks.
Follow us on X @IfGEvents and join the conversation using #localelections2024
For more information, visit the Institute for Government’s guide to the 2024 local and mayoral elections.
Our experts
Emma Norris
Deputy Director
Akash Paun
Programme Director
- Topic
- Devolution
- Keywords
- Local elections Local government Public sector Police Regional economic growth Levelling up
- Position
- Metro mayor Mayor of London
- English Regions
- Greater London North East North West East Midlands East of England South East South West West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber
- Combined authorities
- East Midlands Combined County Authority Greater London Authority Greater Manchester Combined Authority Liverpool City Region Combined Authority North East Combined Authority North of Tyne Combined Authority South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority West Yorkshire Combined Authority West of England Combined Authority Tees Valley Combined Authority West Midlands Combined Authority
- Publisher
- Institute for Government