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United Kingdom local elections, 2014 facts for kids

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The 2014 United Kingdom local elections were held on 22 May 2014. These elections happened on the same day as the European elections. People voted to choose who would represent them on local councils across England and Northern Ireland. These local councils make decisions about things like schools, roads, and parks in your area.

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United Kingdom local elections, 2014

22 May 2014

162 councils and 5 directly-elected mayors in England, all 11 new councils in Northern Ireland
  First party Second party
  Ed Miliband David Cameron
Leader Ed Miliband David Cameron
Party Labour Conservative
Leader since 25 September 2010 6 December 2005
Popular vote 31% 29%
Swing Increase2% Increase4%
Councils 82 41
Councils +/– Increase 6 Decrease 11
Councillors 2121 1364
Councillors +/– Increase 324 Decrease 236

English council results 2014.svg
Map showing results of English local elections, 2014. Black represents No Overall Control, white represents areas that did not hold an election, blue represents the Conservative Party, red represents the Labour Party and gold represents the Liberal Democrats. Areas shown in grey are not part of England.

What Are Local Elections?

Local elections are when people vote for councillors to represent them on local councils. These councils are in charge of many important services in your local area. This includes things like schools, libraries, rubbish collection, and maintaining local roads and parks.

How Did the Parties Do?

The results of the 2014 local elections showed how different political parties performed across the UK. A "councillor" is a person elected to work on the local council. When a party has more councillors, it has more say in how local services are run.

Labour Party Results

The Labour Party saw a good increase in their number of councillors. They had 2,121 councillors elected, which was 324 more than before. This meant they gained more influence in many local areas.

Conservative Party Results

The Conservative Party had fewer councillors elected this time. They ended up with 1,364 councillors, which was a decrease of 236. This meant they lost some of their power in local councils.

Liberal Democrats and Other Parties

The Liberal Democrats also saw a significant drop in their numbers, losing 310 councillors and ending up with 427. Other parties and independent candidates also gained or lost seats:

  • The UK Independence Party (UKIP) gained a lot of new councillors, with 163 elected, which was 161 more than before.
  • The Green Party gained 18 councillors, bringing their total to 38.
  • Various smaller parties and independent candidates also won seats, showing a mix of local support.

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