Could a full election in Milton Keynes mean change?

For the first time in 12 years, there will be full council elections in Milton Keynes on 7 May, meaning every councillor will be defending their seat.

The city is also taking part in a polling booth trial after a decrease in voter turnout.

So why is a full election happening, where can people vote and what could happen on polling day?

City councillors in Milton Keynes are elected for four years, but normally a third are elected at a time, which can make it difficult for one party to take full control.

In 2024 Labour won enough councillors to reach the 29 needed for a majority, the first time that has happened since 2004 when the Liberal Democrats ran the authority.

However a Boundary Commission review means an increase in the number of councillors from 57 to 60, representing 21 wards. The boundaries of all wards, except Tattenhoe, will change.

Boundary reviews take place every decade, meaning every councillor has to stand for re-election and some can choose to stand in different seats.

There are currently 30 Labour councillors, 18 Liberal Democrats and nine Conservatives on the authority.

For three years up to 2024, Labour and the Lib Dems formed an alliance to run the council, but since May of that year, Labour has been in full control.

On 7 May, it will be interesting to see whether recent national results for Sir Keir Starmer's party are reflected locally after almost two years of a Labour government.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are the official opposition so will be looking to maintain a strong presence in the city they controlled from 2002 to 2006.

The Conservatives were the largest party as recently as 2022, but go into this election as the smallest, just weeks after the Gorton and Denton by-election where the party lost its deposit and the Greens won.

The main threat to Labour could come from Reform UK, which runs the two unitary councils in neighbouring Northamptonshire.

Leader Nigel Farage is expected to visit the city to launch his party's local election campaign, another clear sign it is targeting the council.

The Greens have only ever had one councillor on Milton Keynes City Council (about 10 years ago, after a defection from Labour) but having won that by-election nationally, they will be keen to gain traction in a city that sees itself as being progressive.

Council leader, Labour's Pete Marland, is retiring in May after 12 years so there is a real prospect the authority could have only its second female leader in its 52-year history.

Turnout has fallen over the last three contests, and the figure of 30.3% for the last council election in 2024 was the lowest recorded in any Milton Keynes election since 2019.

The city is part of a government-funded trial that will give voters the chance to have their say in Midsummer Place shopping centre on 7 May, as well as traditional polling stations.

Any eligible voter in the local authority area will be able to use the hub, which will be open on polling day between 07:00 and 22:00 BST.

They can also vote in advance by post or via a proxy.

There are six local elections taking place in Hertfordshire, where a third of councillors will be defending seats.

These are in Broxbourne, St Albans, Three Rivers and Watford, and also in Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield, which had originally been postponed due to local government reorganisation.

There are no scheduled elections in Bedfordshire or Buckinghamshire.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.