“Now that Reform UK has notified the LGA of its intention to form a Group, we will offer our support in helping them formalise a new group office."
Following confirmation that Reform UK will form a new group office at the Local Government Association (LGA) following the local elections held on 1 May 2025, LGA Chair, Cllr Louise Gittins, said:
“Now that Reform UK has notified the LGA of its intention to form a Group, we will offer our support in helping them formalise a new group office.
“Local government is at its strongest when we speak with one voice to national government on the many challenges facing our sector right now, including the acute financial pressures that councils are facing as well as the ever-increasing demand for their much relied upon local services.
“As cross-party Chair, I am committed to working with all our political groups to strengthen local government, so our communities thrive.”
Notes to editors
Following the local elections held on Thursday 1 May 2025, the LGA’s political proportionality has been calculated and independently verified.
The results are as follows:
Labour 35.9%
Conservative 24.1%
Liberal Democrat 17.0%
Independent 10.2%
Reform 7.8%
Green 4.6%
Plaid Cymru 0.4%
TOTAL 100.0%
Paragraph 8.3 of the LGA’s Articles of Association states:
Political groups recognised by the Association for the purposes of representation on its governance structures, and whose total share of the weighted electorate is 5% or more, shall be entitled to reasonable support from the Association to enable them to play their part in influencing parties on behalf of Member Authorities.
Political parties, such as the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, who are below the 5% threshold, continue to be part of the LGA Independent Group.
The make-up of the LGA Board and of all our boards and committees will now be recalculated. The new LGA Board will be elected at the annual meeting of our General Assembly on 1 July 2025 before the LGA Annual Conference begins in Liverpool from 1-3 July 2025.
Ends