UK Elections Guide

Local elections decide who runs your council — the people responsible for housing, planning, transport, schools, social care, bins, parks and council tax. General elections decide who forms the UK Government and sets national policy on tax, the NHS, defence, immigration and the economy.

This guide gives a neutral overview of how the major UK parties tend to approach the issues most often decided at local and national level. Always check each party's latest manifesto for your specific area before voting.

What's at stake

Local elections

• Housing and planning — how many homes are built, where, and how social housing is allocated.
• Transport — local roads, buses, cycling, parking and low-traffic schemes.
• Local services — bin collections, libraries, leisure centres, parks and street cleaning.
• Adult and children's social care — the biggest single item in most council budgets.
• Council tax and local finances — how much you pay and what it funds.

General elections

• Economy and tax — income tax, national insurance, VAT, business taxes.
• NHS and public services — funding, staffing and reform.
• Immigration and borders — legal routes, asylum, enforcement.
• Energy and net zero — bills, supply, climate targets.
• Defence and foreign policy — spending, alliances, Ukraine, trade.

How the major parties tend to differ

Labour

Generally pro public investment in housing, transport and the NHS. Tends to support more homebuilding (including on parts of the green belt), stronger workers' rights, and devolution of powers to mayors and councils.

Conservatives

Generally favours lower taxes, restraint on public spending, and local control over planning. Tends to emphasise law and order, smaller-scale housebuilding and protecting the green belt.

Liberal Democrats

Strong focus on local services, NHS and social care, and the environment. Tends to push for more council funding, proportional representation and closer UK–EU ties.

Greens

Climate and environment first: insulation, public transport, renewable energy. Generally supports higher taxes on wealth and pollution to fund public services and social housing.

Reform UK

Focuses on lower immigration, lower taxes and a smaller state. Sceptical of net-zero targets in their current form and generally opposed to large local development schemes.

Restore Britain

Emphasises national sovereignty, traditional institutions and reduced immigration. Generally favours lower taxes and a smaller state, with a focus on community and family.

Other parties

Independents, residents' associations and smaller parties (such as the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the DUP, Sinn Féin, Alliance, SDLP, Workers Party, and various local groups) often play a major role — especially in local elections and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The names and platforms of smaller parties change over time, so check who is standing in your area.

How to decide

1. Take the Help Me Vote quiz to see which party most closely matches your policy priorities.
2. Check who's standing in your ward or constituency — not every party stands everywhere.
3. Read the local manifesto — national policy and local council policy can differ.
4. Make sure you're registered to vote and bring valid photo ID to polling stations in England.

Help Me Vote does not endorse any party. We score parties using their published policies and update positions as those policies change.