Watch: Unpacking the local elections on our first video podcast

Why it matters: Reform UK won 41 of 70 seats on Suffolk County Council and 10 of 16 contested seats on Ipswich Borough Council, despite not standing any councillors in the last elections in 2021 – a result that sets the scene for next May's unitary authority elections.

A note from the editor: This is a bit of a test-run for us. We recorded the conversation the day after the results were declared, but a busy week meant we struggled to find the time to edit and get it out until now. We'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

One thing to flag: One of the councillor images used in the video is incorrect. Apologies for the error, but we couldn't face deleting and re-uploading the video – again.

The details: Across roughly 23 minutes, the conversation covers:

• Why Reform's win was less surprising than the scale of it
• How turnout held up
• The Greens emerging as the outright opposition with 13 seats, and the role the northern bypass debate may have played
• Labour's resilience in central Ipswich, with Neil MacDonald and Colin Kreidewolf retaining their seats
• The Conservatives' collapse from 44 seats to nine on the county council
• What Reform's inexperienced councillors face as they take office
• The process from here, including today's AGM at Endeavour House
• What local issues – from parking to potholes to support for businesses – the new administration needs to tackle

The bottom line: Our first video podcast is now live. It's a test-run, and we know it's a little late, but we hope it offers a useful conversation about what this month's results mean for Ipswich and Suffolk. Let us know what you think.

Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.

This article cost us ~£189 to produce

It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.