2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2024 to elect members of Walsall Council in the West Midlands. This was on the same day as other local elections. 20 of the 60 seats were up for election.

Background
Since its creation in 1974, Walsall has varied between the Conservatives and Labour. Between 1973 and 2004, Walsall had been under Labour control from 1973 to 1976, 1980 to 1982, 1988 to 1992, 1995 to 1996, and 1999 to 2000. It was then under Conservative control between 2004 and 2011, before reverting to no overall control and being retaken by the Conservatives in 2019. In the 2023 elections, the Conservatives retained all 13 seats up for election, receiving 46.1% of the vote, Labour gained 1 seat with 40.9%, and the Liberal Democrats received 4.7%. Despite only standing in 9 of the 20 wards, Reform UK received 3.1%, performing best in Birchills-Leamore, where they received 12.6% of the vote.

The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2021. In that election, the Conservatives gained 5 seats with 54% of the vote, and Labour lost 3 seats with 36%.

Predictions
YouGov released an MRP poll, conducted between 14-29 April 2024. Their findings are expecting "significant" labour gains across the country. YouGov expect this to be replicated in Walsall. Their poll has the Conservative Party on 36.1%, Labour on 41.9% and Reform UK on 13.2%.

Previous council composition
Changes 2023–2024:
 * November 2023: Hajran Bashir, Sabina Ditta, Naheed Gultasib, Farhana Hassan, Khizar Hussain, Saiqa Nasreen, Aftab Nawaz, and Abdus Nazir leave Labour to sit as independents

Summary
The Conservatives retained their majority on the council. Less than a week after the election the Conservative leader of the council, Mike Bird, was suspended from the party. He was subsequently resigned and was replaced as leader by Garry Perry at a council meeting on 3 June 2024.