![Volunteers help verify ballot papers during the North East Lincolnshire Council local elections.](/sites/default/files/styles/16_9_desktop/public/2023-05/local-elections-2023-counting-2880x920px.jpg?h=17e6ff01&itok=0A78XKA2)
Sunak's little local difficulties and Starmer's big local victories
The Guardian’s Rafael Behr joins the podcast team to crunch the numbers and examine what the local election results mean for Sunak and Starmer.
What we talked about in this episode
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large_card_desktop/public/2022-12/10-downing-street-1504x846px_0.jpg?itok=ivXOYlxe)
Preparing a shadow ministerial team for office
What the last two changes of government tell us about effective transitions.
People featured in this episode
![Emma Norris](/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_full_width_desktop/public/2023-01/emma-norris-326x326.jpg?itok=XOQmEMmG)
Emma Norris
Deputy Director
![Dr Catherine Haddon](/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_full_width_desktop/public/2022-12/cath-haddon-326x326.jpg?itok=z4FFAIMy)
Catherine Haddon
Programme Director
![Peter Hourston](/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_full_width_desktop/public/2022-12/peter-hourston-326x326.jpg?itok=Meyzb1C4)
Peter Hourston
Former Research Assistant
![Grant Dalton](/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_full_width_desktop/public/2022-12/grant-dalton-326x326.jpg?itok=OIUbQNmy)
Grant Dalton
Former Researcher