It is easy to view the upcoming 2026 elections through a lens of anxiety. With the never-ending budgetary pressures of the last 15 years and significant political shifts in the air, there is a temptation for senior council officers to “wait and see”, rather than push ahead with the delivery London needs: including public and private sector housebuilding.
But as the saying goes, it was ever thus. For a decade, London’s councils have been the stabilising force of the capital, balancing shrinking budgets against a statutory duty to deliver homes, jobs, and essential services. They didn’t just survive austerity; they became creative out of necessity. Sometimes that creativity has led to tough consequences (Croydon’s financial troubles are an example of what happens when high risk comes with low reward), but just as often it has been the unsung hero, keeping London’s services ticking over when central government support has been nowhere to be found.
So, while we at Cratus hear every week from council officers who aren’t sure how to proceed when the impending May elections look set to bring a massive change in political direction, there is an argument that we’ve all been here before. Political change, budget constraints, and having your hands tied behind your back have been the norm for councils for forever and a day.
Statutory stewardship as a shield
Nonetheless, we only have to look at the rumoured upheaval within NHS England to see what happens when restructuring is handled with performative politics rather than a focus on service delivery. It leads to a grinding halt in delivery and a collapse in staff morale that I’m told is nothing short of catastrophic. London’s local authorities must ensure they do not follow a similar path of paralysis and internal confrontation.
The secret to navigating the next 18 months isn’t in better political spin; it’s in statutory stewardship. By anchoring delivery firmly in their legal duties, from Local Plans to Economic Assessments, councils can build themselves a professional shield – and make sure the essential work can continue, whoever is in charge.
After all, there were those who thought an Aspire-run Tower Hamlets would fall to pieces immediately after the last elections. While there have been real challenges during that transition (and I don’t want to downplay central government intervention), things still “keep on keeping on”. Bins are collected, planning decisions are made, and projects are delivered. This is all achieved through the hard work of council officers working with, rather than against, their political leadership.
At Cratus, we’ve commissioned a series of bespoke polls in key parts of London to see what political sea changes might be afoot and to help our clients read the tea leaves ahead of the May elections. The first of these, focused on the East London trio of Newham, Barking & Dagenham, and Redbridge, will be published later this month.