The political turbulence playing out in town halls across the country will shape whether devolution strengthens Britain’s democracy – or exposes its fragilities.
The last 16 years have been marked by austerity, Brexit, a pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis. Councils have absorbed wave after wave of pressure while managing deep funding cuts. Unsurprisingly, many communities now feel ignored, disrespected, and powerless. That loss of trust is reshaping politics at the local level.
You need only to look to the Museum of Broken Dreams, a pop-up exhibition hosted this week in Parliament by the We’re Right Here campaign, to see the disconnect between what communities are asking for on a local level – and where their wishes and needs are being overlooked or ignored. The Museum tells the stories of community-led projects that could have transformed lives but never reached their potential. These projects weren’t held back by a lack of ideas or dedication, but by a system that makes it difficult for community initiatives to succeed.
In recent local elections, the Reform Party made significant inroads, winning control of councils such as Kent, Worcestershire, and Derbyshire, and mayoralties in areas like Greater Lincolnshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire. Its appeal is rooted less in detailed policy platforms than in their ability to speak plainly to frustrations that mainstream parties have struggled to address. Many Reform councillors arrive with little prior experience of governance — but with strong ties to their communities and a sense of urgency about change.
This presents both opportunities and risks. On one hand, new councillors bring lived experience and a willingness to engage. On the other hand, they often lack familiarity with the legal and financial frameworks of local government. Tensions are already emerging between local administrations and Reform’s national leadership, particularly over issues such as net zero, equality duties, and procurement rules. Council officers, bound by law, must navigate these pressures carefully to ensure statutory responsibilities are upheld.
The devolution bill could magnify these dynamics. By transferring more powers and funding to local leaders, it may empower councils to respond more directly to community needs. But without parallel investment in councillor training, institutional capacity, and public accountability, it could also leave local government exposed to instability and conflict.
Mainstream parties, too, must reflect on their own role. In many places, political representation has been weakened by a lack of effective candidate development, poor communication with residents, and over-reliance on party loyalty. Smaller parties like Reform have capitalised on gaps left by established parties. If devolution is to succeed, it must go hand-in-hand with efforts to rebuild the credibility of local politics more broadly.
The lesson is not that communities are disengaged; it is that they are eager for leaders who address the everyday concerns of jobs, transport, housing, and energy costs in a language they recognise. Devolution can provide a framework for this renewal – but only if it equips local councils, whatever their political composition, with the tools and support they need to deliver.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is therefore more than a question of constitutional reform. It is a test of whether Britain can rebuild trust in democracy from the ground up.
>> Explore how we are redesigning the social contract between people, communities, state and business, through the Power of Participation
>> Invite your MP to visit the Museum of Broken Dreams
>> Support the We’re Right Here campaign for community power
Community Community leadership Community needs and priorities Local economies Local government and public services community empowerment community power english devolution english devolution and community empowerment bill Parliament Posted on: 2 September 2025 Authors: Kersten England CBE,