Voters go to the polls across the UK to elect new local leaders

Millions of voters across the UK are expected to cast their ballots in a local election today to elect the local councilors they want to run services and facilities in their area. surname.

Polling stations are now open in local elections, with council seats being picked up in Scotland, Wales and across England, and Northern Ireland to elect their new council.

More than 4,000 councilors in 146 UK councils are running for office on Thursday (May 5) in major cities including Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, plus all 312 of London’s boroughs.

All 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales are also holding elections, with polls open from 7am to 10pm.

In Northern Ireland, voters will go to the polls across 18 constituencies to elect 90 MLAs ahead of the Stormont election.

Opinion polls show Sinn Fein likely to top the poll and the Coalition Party is expected to see a spike in support.

The Tories have also faced a series of controversies, including former Wakefield MP Imran Nasir Ahmad Khan being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy, and veteran MP Neil Parish quit his job after admitting to viewing content. porn in the Commons.

Oliver Dowden, Chairman of the Tory Party, wants to emphasize to voters the local choice they are making amid reports that some candidates have tried to distance themselves from Westminster during the campaign. nominate.

In a statement marking the opening of the polls, Mr Dowden said: “Today’s elections involve one thing: who do you want to run your council?

“The choice couldn’t be clearer – between Conservatives keeping council tax and providing good services, or opposition parties wasting money on political games and frivolous projects.”

Education Secretary Michelle Donelan argued that Mr Johnson was “an asset, not a liability” in the elections, telling Sky News she could “understand” why councilor hopefuls wanted to give see they “will work hard for all the things that affect everyday life” instead of focusing on what is happening in Westminster.

Environment Secretary George Eustice acknowledged that “all prime ministers will always have a sense of the mood within their party”, amid speculation that a poor result on Thursday could lead to more letters of no confidence. from Tory MPs.

During a visit to Southampton Airport on the last day before the polls opened, Mr Johnson stressed he was “absolutely confident” that he had the “right agenda for the country”.

Tory supporters are likely to be anxiously watching the results of local governments in London such as Wandsworth – under Conservative Party control for the past 44 years – Westminster and Barnet, where YouGov pollsters believe that Labor can cause discomfort.

Labor leader, Sir Keir Starmer, used his election appeal to highlight the “continuous drip of sleaze and scandal” in Mr Johnson’s administration.

Sir Keir said the government had broken the Covid regulations it had put in place “time and again” and said the Tory’s “failure” to tackle the cost of living crisis was one ” disgrace”, along with the Prime Minister’s decision to increase insurance last month.

There have been calls for Tory to ask Durham Police to look into whether the opposition leader breached Covid rules while campaigning ahead of the 2021 Hartlepool by-election, but Sir Keir said it was a “smear” alleging that he broke the rules while having “a lesson and a beer while I was working at night”.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said voters on Thursday had the opportunity to “send Boris Johnson a message he cannot ignore”.

“The Conservatives have failed to address the cost of living crisis, voting to pollute our rivers and abandoning our ambulance services,” he said.

“Whether it’s Somerset or Stockport, Winchester or Wimbledon, St Albans or South Cambridgeshire, I’ve spoken to lifelong Conservative voters who feel fully approved of by a Prime Minister breaking the law and a Prime Minister raises taxes.”

The Lib Dems hope to cause discomfort in Hull by knocking it out of Labour’s control, while also vying for wins over the Tories in places like Wokingham and Sutton.