Why is so much at stake in the May elections?

Why is so much at stake in the May elections?

From Politics At Sam and Anne's by Sky News

April 6, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the upcoming local elections in the UK and the potential impact on party leadership and political dynamics.

With one month to go until the local elections in England, Wales and Scotland - is the electoral map about to be redrawn? In his first major test since the general election, Sir Keir Starmer faces a major health check and verdict on his government and leadership. Could the results reshape his premiership? In this special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by elections analyst Professor Rob Ford to discuss the key battlegrounds across the country. Can the SNP hold on for a fifth term at Holyrood? Could Welsh Labour lose power in the Senedd for the first time in its electoral history? Will Reform UK and the Greens' surge end the conventional two-party political system for good? Can the Conservatives stop the bleeding of votes across the board? Was the Liberal Democrat revival short-lived? Sam and Anne return for daily episodes from Monday 13 April.

People in this episode

Hosts: Sam, Anne

Guest: Professor Rob Ford

Topics covered

  • local elections
  • political analysis
  • party leadership
  • electoral map
  • battlegrounds
  • political system

Keywords

  • May elections
  • local elections
  • Sir Keir Starmer
  • SNP
  • Welsh Labour
  • Reform UK
  • Greens
  • Conservatives
  • Liberal Democrats

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SNP, Welsh Labour, Reform UK, Greens, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats

Places: England, Wales, Scotland

More episodes of Politics At Sam and Anne's

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Politics At Sam and Anne's podcast page.