It's a big week as voters prepare to head to the polls in local elections across the country.
More than 4,350 seats will be up for grabs on Thursday on more than 140 councils. These elections are really important as they will directly decide who is in power in individual areas and who has responsibility for key services and decisions affecting people's lives.
But as well as having very important local implications, these elections will also be seen as a big test for embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has been dogged by revelations about parties held in Downing Street during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Here in Merseyside, there will be one very notable absentee when it comes to Thursday's votes. Liverpool Council will not be part of the local elections this year.
READ MORE: When the results are expected for every Merseyside 2022 local election count
This is because Liverpool is moving to a new system of elections, starting from next May. As part of the fallout from a damning government inspection last year, it has been decided the council will switch from its current pattern of elections in three of every four years, to one all out set of votes every four years, beginning in May 2023.
But aside from Liverpool, there will be important votes taking place right across our region that will affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Here we take a look at what is at stake and how things might change after polling day.
Local Elections: Wirral
In terms of pure politics, Wirral has been the most interesting Merseyside council for a few years now and continues to be heading in to this week's votes. Labour lost four seats to lose overall control of the council on a shock night back in 2019.
The party has continued to run the council as what is known as a minority administration since then, but their authority was damaged further when they lost more seats in 2021. Labour, currently led by Cllr Janette Williamson, would need to gain seven seats to take back overall control of the council this year. If they did pull off such a feat, it could provide a good indicator that the wider Labour party is back in business and on a good fitting for General Election success in the near future.
Equally, Labour will be looking behind them at the Tories, who have just four fewer than their 27 seats and will be hopeful of gaining ground. That being said, Labour would need to have a particularly disastrous night to lose the leadership of the council altogether, with a third of the council's 66 seats up for grabs in total.
These elections will be held against the backdrop of the council’s controversial recent £20m cuts package, which will see it withdraw funding from Woodchurch Leisure Centre, nine libraries, two golf courses and more.
Seats to watch
The Conservatives will have hopes of taking a Labour seat in Pensby and Thingwall. The party now has two out of the three seats in the ward and will be aiming for a clean sweep.
Elsewhere and Labour will largely be nervous about the Greens, who have made key gains in recent years. The Greens will be hopeful of picking up a vacant seat in Birkenhead and Tranmere, to make it a full house in the once Labour-dominated ward, and will fancy nabbing Labour scalps in Bebington and Prenton.
But as George Morgan has reported, the Greens are also looking to try and make inroads into other key Labour territory. If they were to make a gain in somewhere like Seacombe, which would be their first in Wallasey, then the writing could be on the wall for a very bad night for the Labour party.
When we will know what's happened
Voting will take place through the day in Wirral on Thursday, with polls closing at 10pm. The election count will then take place through the night at the Bidston Tennis Centre. Declarations are expected between midnight and 2.30am.
Local elections: Sefton
It has all been kicking off in Sefton before a single vote has even been cast. After a series of bust ups and rows in the ruling Labour group, five Sefton councillors - including a number of former Labour members - have formed a breakaway independent group on the council.
Patrick McKinley, John and Yvonne Sayers have quit the Labour Party to join with Tony Carr and Andrew Wilson and form what Sefton Council have referred to as the new Lydiate, Maghull, Aintree and Lunt Community Independents. It is a move that chimes with the recent formation of the Liverpool Community Independents and that could have some interesting electoral consequences.
The move has slightly lowered Labour's seat count, although heading into Thursday's votes, the party still has an iron grip on power in the borough, holding 43 of the 66 seats. The Lib Dems and Tories are in equal second with eight seats, with the new independent group on 5 and fellow independent group Formby Residents Action Group on two seats.
Seats to watch
There aren't expected to be too many surprises in the Sefton Council votes. In truth the drama of the breakaway group forming before the elections should supersede anything that will happen on the night.
It will be worth keeping an eye on the Netherton and Orrell ward, currently represented by Labour council leader Ian Maher. Cllr Maher was a key target for the ire of the breakaway Labour councillors, with suggestions he and a few other figures carry too much power in the borough.
The ward is also home to highly controversial council-backed plans to turn part of Orrell Mount Park, also known as Silcocks, into an all weather 3G pitch. Last year campaigners gathered to stop lorries moving onto the site. Elsewhere, it will be interesting to see the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats do battle in Southport again. Last year's elections saw the Tories take two Lib Dem scalps to tie level with them as lead opposition groups.
When we will know what has happened
Voting for Sefton's local elections takes place on Thursday May 5, with polls closing at 10pm. Election counts will take place at Aintree Racecourse for Sefton Central and South Sefton wards and Dunes Leisure Centre in Southport for the Southport count.
Counting will begin from midnight. We should get declarations between 1.30 and 2.30am.
Local elections: Knowsley
Like most councils in Merseyside, Knowsley is another where Labour are in control. In fact they have a very firm grip on power and have done for some time.
Labour currently hold 32 of the council's 45 seats, with the Greens the lead opposition on five, four independents, three Liberal Democrats and one vacant seat. Again, there aren't too many major shocks predicted here and Labour certainly will remain in complete control.
Seats to watch
However, there can always be an upset, as last year's elections proved, when Labour's deputy leader Sean Donnelly lost what was deemed a safe seat in Kirkby to former firefighter and little known independent candidate Steve Smith.
The Greens will also be hopeful of taking a seat in Whiston and Cronton, where they were just 20 votes shy last year and will also have their sights on potential Labour scalps in Swanside and Roby. Also keep an eye on the efforts of independent Jen Bamber in the Shevington ward.
When will we know what's happened
Voting will take place across the Knowsley borough on Thursday, with polls closing at 10pm. Knowsley Council actually counts its votes on Friday, rather than through the night on Thursday. The count will start after 9.30am and first declaration is expected to be around midday.
Local elections: St Helens
While Liverpool is not taking part in this year's votes ahead of new all out elections next year, St Helens has reached that point of reform this year. Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission, a raft of changes have been brought in, including new ward formations and the creation of two brand new electoral wards.
It also means that the council will hold all out votes every four years, starting on Thursday, when all 48 seats will be up for grabs. This move brings with it a higher chance of shocks and surprises.
The council is currently firmly in Labour control. The party holds 33 of the 48 seats. There is however, a good chance of that number decreasing in an unpredictable all out election.
Seats to watch
Labour can't be too confident in the Haydock ward. Current ward representative and cabinet member Martin Bond has done a so-called 'chicken run' to stand in the safe seat of West Park. The party will also be nervous about Blackbrook where votes could be split.
Rainhill remains a fascinating area. It went from 85% Labour in 2016 to now having all three seats occupied by the Rainhill independents. Some added spice here comes in the form of former Labour leader Barrie Grunewald looking to make a comeback in Rainhill after losing his seat last year.
When will we know what's happened
Voting will take place across the St Helens borough on Thursday, with polls closing at 10pm. St Helens Council will not be counting through the night on Thursday though. The count will take place on Friday at Sutton Leisure Centre, although with every council seat up for grabs, declarations may not come in until as late as 5pm.
