Post Local Elections: Public Affairs in the Age of Disruption

Picture of the UK Houses of Parliament with Big Ben to the right foreground and Sovereigns Tower to the left with the river in front. The sky looks cloudy and with rough weather potentially looming

The 2025 local elections have changed the game.

Not just because of gains and losses among the major parties—but because of the noise, who’s making it, and how much more media coverage smaller parties are attracting.

Now, many will say (and I agree) that Nigel Farage has long been given more coverage than other parties of near equal or greater size—like the Greens or Lib Dems—so how much more can he possibly attract? Well, for a start, we might see more interrogation of policies, but we’ll have to see. Our print media doesn’t have to consider political balance, unlike its broadcast siblings. But I digress.

Reform UK’s rise is a strategic warning light.

Local elections are often a vehicle for protest votes. But this early in a government’s term? It’s significant. Tony Blair didn’t see similar levels of dissent until well into his second term.

It shows that anti-establishment, populist narratives are once again resonating—and they’re reshaping the political context for how organisations engage. For businesses, charities, cultural institutions, and public bodies, this isn’t just background noise. It’s a serious strategic risk.

"If your issue hits the wrong headline or becomes the wrong hashtag, you need to be ready."

Traditional public affairs is no longer enough.

The old playbook—quiet influence, known gatekeepers, long-term relationships—is falling short. In a media and political environment where narrative often trumps nuance, organisations need a different approach. One that is:

• Politically literate

• Publicly credible

• Fully integrated from the ground up

Your strategy must be ready to handle a fractious House of Commons, a Select Committee and a splash in the Daily Mail.

Political instability is accelerating.

This isn’t just about Reform. Labour is under pressure too—tied to fiscal rules that don’t reflect the current economic climate, while facing public frustration over underperforming public services. Proposed changes to Winter Fuel Payments and PIP entitlements have landed particularly badly, especially among the most vulnerable groups and those that support them.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has moved beyond mere unpopularity — it’s completely adrift. With little more than culture war talking points as a platform, they’re losing traditional and floating voters alike. Taken together with noises off from key party magnates, they're in serious trouble. Unless something changes, they risk becoming spectators in this parliament, let alone the next.

What does this mean for you?

If you're leading a business, charity, or public body, the implications are huge. The rules of engagement have shifted. The consequences of inaction—or the wrong action—are more visible, more politicised, and more reputationally damaging than ever.

I’ve worked on both sides—inside government advising ministers and shaping Whitehall strategy, and outside building integrated PR and public affairs campaigns across health, culture, sport, and education. I know how the system works—and more importantly, how it's changing.

Engage smarter, not louder.

At Summit, I help organisations navigate this volatile environment with clarity and calm—whether you’re managing policy risk, planning advocacy, or preparing for scrutiny.

If your team needs public affairs counsel grounded in experience, responsive to politics, and connected to cultural insight—get in touch.

This is the moment to sharpen your message, build resilience, and get ahead of the next headline.