IT’S a big day for council elections all over the country, with 4,851 seats up for grabs across 134 of England’s 317 local administrations. Polling suggests a poor showing for Labour, with a significant increase in votes for Green, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru candidates.

But it’s all quiet on the election front in Cornwall. Why? Because all 87 Cornwall Council seats (along with those from other smaller councils) went to the ballot box on May 1 last year. Turnout was 37.2 per cent, with 164,730 votes cast from a Cornish electorate of 444,001.

The ruling Conservative administration was decimated, returning only seven councillors; while Reform gained the highest number of councillors with 28 seats, followed by the LibDems with 26 seats, neither had enough for an overall majority. After much debate, the LibDems formed the current administration in collaboration with 16 Independent councillors.

Cornwall Council elections take place every four years, meaning the next will be in 2029. There is no synchronised national timetable for council elections, so they can be held at different times.