While recent polling of people's voting intentions brings into sharp focus the impact of the past few months of turmoil, in truth positive attitudes towards national politicians – of all stripes – have long been waning.
In December last year, trust in them had fallen to an all-time low. The last Government's experiment has only compounded the disillusionment, as people watch their mortgages, bills and cost of essentials rise while national politicians play political musical chairs.
These systematic failures in our national leadership stand in stark contrast to our local leaders. It is councils who have been delivering for their communities, through their multi-faceted roles of delivery agents, place-shapers, convenors, and influencers. It is councils who have the knowledge and skills to re-inspire a generation of voters uninspired by the national Government's offer. It is councils (again) who are stepping up to lead their local areas through the current crisis. There is now a real opportunity for local politicians to collectively show what leadership can mean.
Knowledge of local issues and rebuilding trust
Local leaders demonstrate the benefits in knowing areas. They know where the tensions, barriers and opportunities are, and they have the existing networks and partnerships to convene groups to address issues. Unlike the national system, where MPs can be parachuted into constituencies, local councillors are from the places they are elected to serve.
Unlike the national system, where civil servants move between policy areas depending on ministerial ambitions, local officers develop a deep understanding about the problems and solutions which their areas face.
It is therefore unsurprising people have more faith in local decision makers. New Local's research showed that councils are four times as likely to be trusted to have communities' best interests at heart when making decisions compared to national politicians.
Capitalising on this knowledge of local issues, and on this greater degree of trust, provides an opportunity for councils to play to their strengths and revitalise the relationship between politicians and their electorate.
Empowering communities to have influence and control
People want more control and influence over the decisions which impact them, and the unique role of local leaders can broker that in practice.
In recent years, councils have sought innovative approaches to community participation beyond traditional engagement mechanisms. From using citizens' assemblies to debate difficult issues like climate change, to using Community Infrastructure Levy funds as the basis for participatory budgets, councils are adopting new ways to inspire and work with communities.
In doing so, they are providing the visible leadership on the issues that matter by working directly with the people who they matter to.
Dynamic responses to the next crisis
The failure in national leadership has come at a time when inflation has hit double digits and living standards are rapidly declining. Almost half of adults (45%) are finding it difficult to afford energy bills, while nearly ten million adults and four million children were forced to skip meals or go a whole day without eating in recent months.
Government was slow to mobilise during the pandemic, and once again local leaders are responding the quickest during the worst cost of living crisis for a generation. This has not happened by chance. Despite significant shortfalls in funding and without the full suite of powers national politicians have at their disposal, local leaders have created the conditions to enable quick decision making and dynamic action.
Thanks to ongoing collaboration and coordination with partners and communities, councils are providing support in the short term while seeking to build resilience in the longer term. This should be celebrated, not just because of the failure of national leadership, but as a blueprint for effective leadership.
The new administration at Westminster has a job to do to counteract the disillusionment in national politics. People want more influence and national politicians will need to address this eventually.
Trusting local leaders would be a start; guaranteeing funding for councils at sustainable levels and decentralising powers would be even better. But in this moment, there is a real opportunity for local leaders to demonstrate what is possible.
Polly Lord is head of local public services research at New Local
@wearenewlocal
