Hull politics expert on the need to vote in local elections
Local council elections will take place in the UK on 2 May.
As the country gears up for the next round of local council elections in May, a politics expert from the University of Hull has warned people not to waste their vote.
According to figures from the Electoral Commission, less than a third (32%) of people voted in 2023's local elections. This compares to just over two-thirds (67%) at the last general election in 2019.
Dr Joseph Tiplady teaches politics at the University of Hull and said: "In the last financial year local councils spent around £123bn in England, which counts for around 25% of all government spending.
"The money they spend is mostly raised from your council tax. If you want influence perhaps over how much you're charged for council tax voting is the easiest way to have a say."
Although councils have no say in some important national issues such as defence, they run many local services which will have a bearing on the lives of people in their area.
Dr Tiplady said: "If you have a child in school or an elderly relative in a care home it's more than likely that your local council has some sort of role in overseeing those local institutions."
Thursday 2 May 2024 local elections in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire:
- Hull City Council: all wards except Central and Pickering
- East Riding of Yorkshire Council: no elections
- North East Lincolnshire Council: electing a third of its councillors
- North Lincolnshire Council: no elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside Police