Polls open for major electoral test of Starmer government across England, Scotland and Wales
Smaller parties including Reform UK, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats expected to gain ground as counting begins for the most significant local and parliamentary elections since the 2024 general election
Polling has officially commenced for local, mayoral and parliamentary contests across England, Scotland and Wales, marking the most significant electoral test for the Keir Starmer-led Labour government since the 2024 general election. The scale of the exercise involves 136 English councils, 129 Scottish Members of the Scottish Parliament, and 96 Welsh Senedd representatives, alongside six mayoral races.
The elections encompass 5,014 seats in England across the 136 councils, including all 32 London boroughs, with a further 73 councils holding elections for partial seats. In Scotland, 129 MSPs will be voted into Holyrood to debate devolved matters such as education, health and transport, while policy areas with UK-wide impact remain the responsibility of Westminster. Wales will see 96 representatives elected across 16 constituencies under a new proportional voting system where voters back parties rather than individual candidates.
Preliminary data from the May 2025 local elections indicates a shifting political landscape, with smaller parties gaining ground at the expense of the major blocs. Following that cycle, Labour held 34 per cent of English council seats, down two per cent, while the Conservatives fell to 26 per cent. The Liberal Democrats increased their share to 19 per cent, and Reform UK jumped from zero to five per cent of seats, with the Greens maintaining a five per cent share.
The polls remain open from 7am to 10pm, with first results expected around 12.30am on Friday. Significant council and mayoral results are anticipated by lunchtime, with Scottish and Welsh parliamentary results due by 4pm on Friday. Counting for the six mayoral contests in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford begins on Friday, with declarations scheduled between 1pm and 6pm.
Analysts suggest the outcomes could fundamentally alter the political landscape nationally, particularly in Scotland and Wales, and across local authorities in England. The results are seen as the first major political test of an increasingly multiparty system, following months of Labour and the Conservatives languishing in the polls amidst growing popularity for smaller parties.
While the full picture remains to be determined, the immediate focus is on the declaration of results which will begin in earnest in the early hours of Friday. By the end of the day, approximately 80 more councils are expected to have declared results, though final outcomes in areas such as Croydon and Tower Hamlets may not be confirmed until Saturday afternoon.