6 Things Today's UK Local Elections Will Mean For Comms Pros
How voters views have changed - and it's about more than just politics
The media landscape is changing at pace – and keeping up with the latest developments and moves will give every comms expert an advantage over their rivals. Every week take a look at the media business from mainstream and ‘legacy’ media to cutting edge tech and the latest trends and developments – and how you can use that know-how.
Have you voted today? Or have you already marked your cross on the ballot paper in the lazy way like I do with a postal vote.
I’m quite geeky on democracy – so much so that in the 37 years I’ve been on the electoral register I’ve never missed a vote, including in a European election on my 18th birthday.
I’m thinking turnout today will be pretty high for a local election, unless you’re a diehard Labour supporter. And even then, a vote to keep others out may well be incentive enough.
As someone who has worked in media and government, it feels like interesting days. Both sectors are seeing sea-changes that are shifting the shape of politics, culture and society.
So, before a vote has yet been counted, here are my six hot takes on what these local elections will mean for the comms industry and what they signal about the wider state of the UK – and what might follow.
The changing face of Brits’ views. Old ways of voting have changed. The two main parties have seen the percentage of the electorate supporting them dwindle in the last five years – such that both now are getting under 20% of the vote. But it is also indicative of a wider societal way of life. Party loyalty is almost dead (some 60% of voters have changed who they vote for in the past 10 years compared to around 10% pre-2010). We are seeing that variety and change in people’s interests and what they care about. Brand loyalty similarly is out of the window. That’s definitely true in the media but also everyday life. Loyalty to a product is being swept aside by concerns around cost, customer service and quality.
