All you need to know about Swindon's local elections
BBCAs Swindon's famous Magic Roundabout has many possible directions - so do the local elections in May.
It is the biggest election ever held for Swindon Borough Council, with a record 239 candidates standing. Those who win the ballot will help to run the authority for the next four years.
Yet experts predict how people vote will be mainly influenced by national, not local issues, with many looking for change.
Who has control of the council now?
Labour currently has an overwhelming 25-seat majority at Swindon Borough Council and controls more than 40 wards.
The Conservatives have fewer - 15. The Liberal Democrats have a solitary seat at the authority.
Swindon is a unitary authority and is separate from Wiltshire Council, where no elections are taking place this time.
The politics
The Tories are also under pressure, as voters increasingly turn away from the two main parties.
"It's not unusual for governments to be in electoral trouble in mid-term but not in this much electoral trouble," says election expert Professor Sir John Curtice.
"Above all we've never had a situation where between them Labour and the Conservatives command the support of less than two in five of the electorate."
In a town which for decades has swung back and forth between the reds and the blues, that could mean big change on May 7.
- Follow the 2026 local elections on BBC Wiltshire
Swindon's challenges
Economically, the numbers suggest Swindon is doing better than most places.
In recent years it has seen significant growth, boosted recently by several drone-makers setting up plants.
But that does little to relieve the financial pressures facing the council.
The lion's share of its budget is spent on social services – child protection and adult social care. Demand for both has grown, and, say officials, funding has not kept pace.
The public view
That means there is less money for the things residents are more focused on.
Many mention potholes, and the state of the town centre.
But it is wider issues which people particularly talk about – with the cost of living and immigration big concerns.
Even though these are not council matters, parties are bringing them up.
Most also hope to remind voters of the government's troubles, with opinion polls suggesting Labour are struggling.
How do I vote?
There are three ways to vote:
- In person at your local polling station on election day between 0700 BST and 2200 BST
- by postal vote
- by nominating someone to vote on your behalf - a proxy
When will votes be counted?
The votes are not being counted overnight as would be customary for a General Election - but during the day on Friday 8 May.
We should start getting a full picture during the afternoon.
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
