Polls opened across the UK on Thursday as voters choose a range of local councils, several mayors, and the devolved parliaments in Scotland (Holyrood) and Wales (the Senedd). The vote is expected to deliver significant gains for the far‑right Reform party and the Greens, while the governing Labour Party looks set to suffer major losses, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
What is being decided
About 5,000 local council seats across 136 councils are up for grabs, along with six mayoral contests. The Scottish and Welsh parliaments are also being elected. While councils handle services such as rubbish collection and pothole repairs, many voters view the ballots as a referendum on the prime minister and the national government.
Where losses are expected
Polls and analysts forecast Labour setbacks in Wales, where it has been the largest party since devolution, and in Scotland, where nationalist parties—the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru in Wales—could make gains.
Timings
Polling stations opened at 07:00 (06:00 GMT) and close at 22:00, with most results expected by Friday afternoon.
Why this matters for Starmer
Despite winning a large parliamentary majority in July 2024, Labour and Keir Starmer have seen their standing decline in opinion polls. Starmer narrowly survived internal pressure in February after controversy over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington following revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files about Mandelson’s long-standing links with Epstein. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly called for Starmer’s resignation at the time. Although Starmer stayed on, a poor showing in these local and regional elections could revive challenges to his leadership.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
