Polls open across the United Kingdom for local and devolved elections that are widely seen as a major midterm test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party. Voting begins on Thursday for nearly 5,000 council seats in England, alongside elections for the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Results are expected on Friday afternoon in most areas, with some local authorities counting overnight. Several outlets describe the contests as a check on Labour’s standing since Starmer’s party took power in July 2024, with his leadership facing heightened scrutiny. While local elections typically focus on day-to-day issues such as local services, opponents and some analysts frame the vote more broadly as reflecting satisfaction with the national government. Coverage also points to the possibility of gains by populist and nationalist parties, including the hard-right, and highlights that Labour is bracing for big losses. If results are poor, some reporting says it could increase pressure within Labour and fuel questions about whether Starmer can lead the party into the next national election, which must be held by 2029.
UK votes in local and devolved elections as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer
Polls open across the United Kingdom for local and devolved elections that are widely seen as a major midterm test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party. Voting begins on Thursday for n...
- Voting takes place on Thursday for local council seats in England, with elections for nearly 5,000 seats.
- Elections also take place for the parliaments in Scotland and Wales.
- Most results are expected on Friday afternoon, though some areas count overnight.
- Labour and Prime Minister Keir Starmer face pressure ahead of the vote, which is widely described as a major political test.
- Commentators expect the results could strengthen alternative parties, including hard-right and other populist or nationalist forces.
British voters cast ballots Thursday in local and regional elections that could shake up the country's politics and deliver a heavy blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
19 hours agoMore than 5,000 council spots and every seat in the Scottish and Welsh parliaments are up for grabs in the biggest electoral test for beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
23 hours agoBritish voters cast ballots Thursday in local and regional elections that could shake up the country's politics and deliver a heavy blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
1 day agoUK voters began casting ballots on Thursday, 7 May, in local and devolved elections seen as the biggest political test yet for Prime Minister Keir Starmer since Labour’s landslide victory in July 2024.
1 day agoMillions of British voters cast their ballots on Thursday in local and regional elections that are expected to deal a huge blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party and renew questions over his ability to govern. Elections for almost 5,000 council seats in England and to the parliaments in Scotland and Wales could signal the beginning of the end of Britain's traditional two-party system if voters opt for populist and nationalist parties rather than the once-dominant Labour and Conservatives. FRANCE 24's Bénédicte Paviot reports from London.
1 day agoLONDON — British voters cast ballots Thursday in midterm local and regional elections that could shake up the country's politics and deliver a heavy blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer . Starmer’s center-left Labour Party is bracing for big losses in polls that will choose about 5,000 local councilors and a handful of mayors across England, as well as semiautonomous parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT). Some local authorities will count ballots overnight, but the bulk of the results are likely to be declared on Friday afternoon. Local elections usually focus on issues like garbage collection, graffiti and potholes, but Starmer’s opponents have painted Thursday's vote as a referendum on the prime minister. A rout could trigger moves by restive Labour lawmakers to oust a leader who led them to power less than two years ago. Even if Starmer survives for now, many analysts doubt he will lead the party into the next national election, which must be held by 2029. Starmer’s popularity has plunged after repeated missteps
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