Voting began across the United Kingdom on Thursday in local and regional elections widely viewed as a major test of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership, with his governing Labour Party bracing for significant losses.
Millions of voters are choosing around 5,000 local council members, along with several mayors in England, and representatives for semi-autonomous parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Polls opened at 7:00am and are set to close at 10:00pm (2100 GMT), with most results expected on Friday.
Although local elections typically focus on municipal services, analysts say this vote has taken on national significance and is being treated as a midterm verdict on Starmer’s government.
Labour, which holds about 2,500 council seats, is expected to lose ground after a difficult period for the prime minister, whose popularity has declined amid economic challenges, strained public services, and rising living costs. His government has also faced criticism over policy missteps and political controversies, including the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, which drew backlash due to his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Political analysts say the election could further weaken Starmer’s position within his party, though immediate leadership change is considered unlikely.
Far-right Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, is expected to be one of the biggest winners, targeting working-class voters in former Labour strongholds with an anti-establishment and anti-immigration platform. The Green Party is also projected to gain seats in urban and university areas, while the Conservative Party is expected to suffer losses, with the Liberal Democrats making modest gains.
Experts say the results could signal a fragmentation of Britain’s traditional two-party system, with smaller parties increasingly challenging Labour and the Conservatives.
Despite internal pressure, Starmer did not directly mention the Conservatives in his final campaign message, instead framing the vote as a choice between Labour’s “progress and a better future” and what he described as the “anger and division” of Reform and “empty promises” from the Greens.
Reform UK leader Farage has suggested that a strong performance for his party could threaten Starmer’s leadership within months, while both Reform and the Greens have faced scrutiny over funding and candidate controversies.
In Scotland and Wales, nationalist parties are expected to maintain strong positions, even as Reform seeks to expand its influence.
Observers say Labour is contesting a highly fragmented political landscape, facing competition on multiple.