Sir Keir Starmer is facing the biggest test of his premiership as millions of voters head to the polls on Thursday for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, as well as for local councils across England.
The prime minister could potentially lose hundreds of council seats, as well as Labour’s dominance in the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, in the biggest test of public opinion since the general election in 2024.
The latest YouGov poll shows that Labour’s 27-year rule in Wales is set to end with the party predicted to fall to third place, with Plaid Cymru taking the lead and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK coming in second.
Plaid Cymru leader Ap Iorwerth said Wales has a "choice of two futures" between “hope" and "division".
Sir Keir did not respond to reporters when asked how he was feeling as he arrived to cast his ballot at Westminster Chapel with his wife Lady Victoria. Each of the party leaders, including Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, have now cast their votes ahead of the 10pm deadline.
MPs are reportedly moving to oust the prime minister in the wake of the elections, in a bloodless coup modelled on the way Sir Tony Blair was encouraged to make way for his successor Gordon Brown.
Key Points
- Polls open as Labour forecast historic defeat
- Sir Keir Starmer to face biggest test of his premiership
- How will our reporters be covering the results?
- Polling stations open as Scots elect new Holyrood Parliament
- Do I need ID to vote in the elections in Scotland, Wales or England?
How many seats is each party defending?
19:43 , Harriette BoucherIn England, Labour are defending just over half of the council seats being contested, reflecting the party’s current strength in London and in Metropolitan boroughs while just over a quarter are Conservative defences.
This is a different scenario from last year’s local elections, when the Tories were defending the greatest number of council seats, due to most of those contests being for county councils where the party was dominant.
Other parties are defending a smaller proportion of seats.
The Liberal Democrats are defending around 700 and the Greens nearly 200, while Reform are defending 80, mostly due to recent by-election victories or defections.
Boundary changes introduced at this year’s Scottish Parliament election mean that while some seats are unchanged, others have disappeared, been renamed, changed shape or are brand new, although there will still be 129 seats in the Parliament.
At the previous election in 2021, the SNP won 64 seats, one short of the number needed for an overall majority while the Conservatives won 31 seats, Labour 22, the Greens eight and the Liberal Democrats four.
In Wales, the enlargement of the Senedd from 60 to 96 seats, together with the introduction of new constituencies and a change in the system of voting, means it will not be possible to compare directly the state of the parties before the election with what happens on polling day.
At the previous election in 2021, when the Senedd comprised 60 seats, Labour won 30, one short of an overall majority, the Tories won 16, Plaid Cymru 13 and the Lib Dems one.
The caravan, golf club, and cemetery where voters cast their ballots
19:31 , Harriette Boucher
What happens after voting closes tonight?
18:59 , Harriette BoucherAt 10pm on Thursday, polling stations will close across the country.
Of the 136 local authorities in England holding elections, 46 are due to count and declare results overnight.
1am, Friday
Most of the local authorities counting overnight have only a third or half of their seats up for grabs, which means those councils where a party currently has a large majority – such as Broxbourne (Conservative) and Halton (Labour), both of which are due to declare around this time – are unlikely to see a change in overall control.
But councils where a party is defending only a slim majority, for example Harlow (Conservative) and Redditch (Labour), which are also due to finish counting at this time, may slip into no overall control if other parties make gains.
2am
Labour is defending majorities at Hartlepool and Lincoln, both of which are due to declare around now, while an early test for the Liberal Democrats will be if they can cling on to their tiny majority at Hull.
Wigan is the first Metropolitan borough council due to finish counting, where only a third of seats are up for election. Labour has a large enough majority here to retain control even if the party loses every one of the seats it is defending.
3am
Salford, another big Metropolitan council in Greater Manchester, should finish counting around this time. But like nearby Wigan, only a third of seats are up for grabs and Labour’s majority is large enough for the party to keep control even if it suffers heavy losses.
Both Wigan and Salford will provide early clues as to whether Reform and the Greens are managing to pick up Labour seats in north-west England.
Around 3.30am, Westminster is due to be the first London council to finish counting – and the first council of the night where every seat is up for grabs.
The outcome here will not only be the first indication of how Labour is faring in the capital, but also if the Tories have managed to recover support in one of their former London strongholds – or whether gains by smaller parties leave the council in no overall control.
4am
Hampshire is the first county council due to complete its declarations, where the Conservatives have been the majority party since 1997.
In London, a full set of results is due from Ealing (Labour), Sutton (Lib Dems) and Wandsworth (Labour), with Wandsworth most likely to see seats changing hands and any evidence of a rise in support for the Greens.
Every seat is up for election in Newcastle under Lyme and all the results should be in now, revealing whether the Tories have managed to keep their overall majority.
5am
Among the authorities counting overnight still left to declare are six London councils: Bexley, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering, Kensington & Chelsea, Merton, and Richmond upon Thames.
Bexley is Reform’s top target in the capital and the party may also do well in Havering, while the Lib Dems have gained ground in Merton in recent years and – together with other parties – may take enough seats from Labour this time to leave the council in no overall control.
9am
Counting gets under way for the parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, for 86 local authorities in England, and for the six mayoral contests.
Why many votes won't be counted overnight
18:35 , Harriette BoucherAlthough polls close in England, Scotland and Wales at 10pm on Thursday, counting will not begin for the majority of contests until Friday morning.
Unlike in previous elections, vote counting for the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections will not be completed overnight.
The Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB) announced the changes last year, saying it would reduce costs, improve the robustness of the process, and ensure that staff are well-rested.
Wales' Electoral Management Board said the new rule would allow voters to keep up to date with the count when it takes place during the day.
It said it would also mean staff were well-rested.
Some councils in England will declare results overnight.
Where are the local elections taking place?
18:13 , Harriette BoucherIn pictures: Party leaders cast votes on election day
17:57 , Harriette Boucher
How pluralist is local government?
17:40 , Harriette BoucherMulti-party politics is not new at a local government level, a political expert has said.
Justin Fisher, the director of the policy unit at Brunel University of London, stated: “Since 2022, the largest groups of GB councils has been under ‘No Overall Control’, and this has been rising. After the 2025 local elections, 43.5% of local authorities were under ‘No Overall Control’. This figure is likely to rise again after Thursday.
“The Conservative/Labour domination of GB councils has been declining for some time. While 57% of councils were runs by either the Conservatives or Labour in 2019, by 2025, the figure was 38%. Similarly, the proportion of GB Conservative and Labour councillors was 70% in 2019. By 2025, it was 57%.
“It is possible that the Liberal Democrats may become the second party of local government in terms of councillors – something that hasn’t happened since the mid-1990s.
“Local government has always been more multi-party than Westminster.”
Cow drops in at polling station in North Norfolk
17:13 , Harriette BoucherWhat time will results be announced and is there an exit poll?
16:58 , Harriette BoucherAlmost 25,000 candidates are fighting to be elected to more than 5,000 seats on 136 councils across England, with Reform UK fielding around 4,800, less than 100 fewer than Labour and some 50 more than the Conservatives.
The Greens have almost 4,500 candidates, with the Liberal Democrats on just under 4,000 and there are more than 2,000 other candidates from minor parties or standing as independents or for residents’ groups.
Labour are defending some 2,500 of the seats being contested, meaning potential problems for prime minister Sir Keir Starmer if the party loses large numbers of councillors.
The Conservatives are defending 1,236 seats, the Liberal Democrats 706, the Greens 194 and Reform UK just 83, mostly as a result of by-election victories or defections since the previous times these councils went to the polls.
Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on May 7, with the first results expected within a few hours, and the final one on the evening of Saturday May 9.
In pictures: Holyrood candidate arrives at polling station dressed as bird
16:33 , Harriette BoucherRobert Pownall, who is standing as a candidate in the Holyrood election, dressed as a gannet outside of a polling station in Edinburgh on Thursday.
“I’m standing in the Scottish elections as a giant Gannet. Yes, really. I’m officially in the running to become a Member of Scottish Parliament,” he said.
“Why? To force one issue out of the shadows and into the political spotlight: the Guga hunt.”
The Guga hunt is a tradition that dates back to the 15th century and sees gannet chicks culled on the remote Scottish island of Sula Sgeir.
Voters in England turned away over ID, election monitors say
16:16 , Harriette BoucherSome voters have been turned away from polling stations due to confusion over photo ID requirements.
Instances have been recorded by the Council of Europe, which is observing the election procedures in polling stations in the UK.
Instances of confusion around photo identification requirements took place in London, the Guardian reported.
Jani Kokko, a member of the Finnish parliament, told the newspaper: “The Congress of the Council of Europe is the only international organisation that observes local and regional elections. This time, observation of this nature is more important than ever because of the increasing threat posed by foreign interference, attempts to undermine democracy, and disinformation.
“I think this work is really important, not just here in the UK in terms of the recommendations we can make but also in terms of what we can learn from measures being taken here.”
In pictures: More four-legged friends accompany voters to the polls
15:49 , Holly Evans
What are the Green Party offering voters?
15:31 , Holly EvansZack Polanski’s Green Party is expecting to make large gains in May’s election, capitalising on the momentum gained by their historic victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year.
The party has driven home their pledges on housing, while also winning voters over on international affairs with their pro-Palestine, anti-war stance.
Mr Polanski used his speech at the party’s local election campaign launch to call for “robust sanctions” on Israel, and “an end to the genocide”.
In Hackney, a key target area for the party, mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett told The Independent that Gaza, housing, disability support and immigration were coming up repeatedly on the doorstep.
In Tower Hamlets, the party has pledged to twin the area with a Palestinian town and also introduce protections for migrants, such as ensuring information is not shared with immigration enforcement agencies.
Calling itself the “party of renters”, key Green pledges call for greater protections and the introduction of rent controls.
In Wales, the Greens have proposed a one-year rent freeze while a system of rent controls is developed, which they say will spare renters a “hike at a time when all their other bills and costs are only going up”.
It says that although rent controls may take longer to introduce in England, elected Greens will “continue to lead the way in the campaign against Labour and the landlord lobby”.
How many candidates are standing?
15:16 , Holly EvansThe Labour Party is fielding the most candidates in the local elections in England, at nearly 4,900, just ahead of Reform, which has close to 4,800, and the Conservatives, which have just over 4,700.
The Greens have almost 4,500 candidates and the Liberal Democrats just under 4,000 while there are more than 2,000 other candidates from minor parties, independents and residents’ groups.
In Scotland, the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform all have candidates in each of the 73 constituency seats while the Greens are contesting just six of the 73.
In the eight regional seats in Scotland – each of which returns seven members to the parliament – the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, Reform and Greens are all fielding candidates.
In Wales, a new system of voting has been adopted that has seen the country divided into 16 super-constituencies, each of which will send six members to the Senedd, with seats allocated proportionally according to the number of votes cast.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, Reform and the Greens have a full slate of candidates in all the 16 constituencies.
All Welsh party leaders cast their vote
15:03 , Holly EvansThe leaders of all six main political parties in Wales have now cast their votes.
Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan voted in St Davids, Pembrokeshire while Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar cast his vote in Kinmel Bay, Conwy.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth voted in Llangristiolus, Anglesey, having spent the last day of campaigning in north Wales. Meanwhile, Welsh leader of Reform Dan Thomas voted in Aberbargoed, Caerphilly county.
Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds headed to her local polling station in Hay-on-Wye, Powys and Welsh Greens leader Anthony Slaughter was joined by Green Party leader Zach Polanski on his way to vote in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan.
When will results be declared?
14:45 , Holly EvansBallot papers in Scotland and Wales will be counted during the daytime on Friday 8 May, with the first results expected in the early afternoon and the final declarations due in the evening.
In England, 46 of the 136 local authorities holding elections will count and declare overnight, with results expected between 1am and 6am on 8 May.
The majority of the remaining authorities will not begin counting until 9am on 8 May and are likely to start declaring results late in the morning and continue through to the evening.
All six mayoral results in England are due to be declared on the afternoon of 8 May.
Four local authorities – Bradford, Croydon, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets – are counting on Saturday 9 May, with a full set of results likely by the evening.
Unknown how Reform UK will fare in Scotland as Labour predicted dismal results
14:33 , Holly EvansOne of the unknowns ahead of Friday’s results in Scotland is the fate of Reform UK.
The party has been polling well for the first time at Holyrood and looks poised to win at least a dozen seats, with one of the key battles being between Lord Offord’s party and Labour for second place.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar however has insisted the polls – some of which put Labour in third place – were wrong and his party will defy the pollsters and pundits on Thursday, but it is a far cry from the success Labour experienced at the 2024 general election in Scotland.
The Scottish Labour leader cut ties with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, calling for him to stand down in the wake of the Peter Mandelson scandal, severing an alliance which had held since the two took over their respective parties north and south of the border.
How will our reporters be covering the results?
14:19 , Holly EvansWith results due to begin arriving in the early hours of the morning, our team at The Independent will be bringing you all the latest updates through until Saturday.
Our political correspondent Athena Stavrou will be live at the count in Hackney, a key target for Zack Polanski’s Green Party where their mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett is hoping to lead them to a win.
Our senior reporter Holly Evans will be live at the count in Casnewydd Islwyn at the Geraint Thomas Velodrome in Newport, where Welsh Reform leader Dan Thomas will discover the outcome of the Senedd results.
Political correspondent Millie Cooke will be up in the early hours of the morning to bring you all the latest updates from councils that had begun counting overnight.
Political editor David Maddox and Whitehall editor Kate Devlin will be bringing you snap analysis and insights into what these results mean for the future of Labour - and for Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership
Our senior reporter Alex Ross will be helming this live blog and bringing you all the latest news and updates.
Nigel Farage casts vote in local elections in Walton-on-the-Naze
14:00 , Bryony GoochPictured: Dogs dominate the polling stations
13:56 , Bryony Gooch
Recap: Over 1,300 voters waiting for ballot papers ahead of Senedd election
13:49 , Bryony GoochOver 1,300 applicants for postal votes were left waiting to receive their ballot papers ahead of the election for the Welsh Parliament on Thursday, a council has said.
It was revealed on Monday that postal votes had not been delivered to voters in Cardiff’s Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf and the Caerdydd Penarth constituencies.
Royal Mail said the postal votes were “not printed” and “never handed over” to them for delivery.
Cardiff Council said the “print run for the supplementary voting packs scheduled for last week did not fully take place”.
Read more here:
Over 1,300 voters waiting for ballot papers ahead of Senedd election
Plaid Cymru leader claims Wales 'stands at a crossroads'
13:27 , Bryony GoochPlaid Cymru leader Ap Iorwerth said Wales has a "choice of two futures" as he spoke in Llandudno, according to BBC.
He said Wales "stands at a crossroads", between Plaid’s offer of a "choice based on hope" and "division", he said in reference to Reform.
Pictured: Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar poses for photos with his wife Furheen Ashrif and their children
13:16 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth casts vote in Senedd election
12:58 , Holly EvansEverything you need to know about today’s crucial vote
12:55 , Holly EvansMore than 5,000 council seats will be up for grabs when voters in England go to the polls on Thursday.
Local elections are taking place for 136 local authorities on 7 May, including some of the largest cities in the country and the whole of London.
A mix of urban authorities and rural districts are also holding elections, along with several county councils.
It is the largest set of local elections in England for three years and a key test for all political parties.
Read the full article here:
Local elections 2026: Everything you need to know about today’s crucial vote
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey arrives to cast his vote
12:48 , Holly EvansSir Ed Davey said he is feeling “very, very positive” as he went to cast his ballot in the local elections at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church in south-west London.
He also told reporters that a good result for the Liberal Democrats will mean “lots of gains”, as he arrived arm in arm with his wife, Emily on Thursday.
When asked if he was worried about the Green Party, Sir Ed said: “We are worried about can we win even more? We are on the up.”
The Liberal Democrats leader smiled as he waved at a passer-by outside the polling station before stopping to shake hands with a member of the public.
When asked by reporters if he was excited, he said: “I’m always excited on election day.”
How many seats is each party defending?
12:24 , Holly EvansIn England, Labour are defending just over half of the council seats being contested, reflecting the party’s current strength in London and in Metropolitan boroughs while just over a quarter are Conservative defences.
This is a different scenario from last year’s local elections, when the Tories were defending the greatest number of council seats, due to most of those contests being for county councils where the party was dominant.
Other parties are defending a smaller proportion of seats.
The Liberal Democrats are defending around 700 and the Greens nearly 200, while Reform are defending 80, mostly due to recent by-election victories or defections.
Boundary changes introduced at this year’s Scottish Parliament election mean that while some seats are unchanged, others have disappeared, been renamed, changed shape or are brand new, although there will still be 129 seats in the Parliament.
At the previous election in 2021, the SNP won 64 seats, one short of the number needed for an overall majority while the Conservatives won 31 seats, Labour 22, the Greens eight and the Liberal Democrats four.
In Wales, the enlargement of the Senedd from 60 to 96 seats, together with the introduction of new constituencies and a change in the system of voting, means it will not be possible to compare directly the state of the parties before the election with what happens on polling day.
At the previous election in 2021, when the Senedd comprised 60 seats, Labour won 30, one short of an overall majority, the Tories won 16, Plaid Cymru 13 and the Lib Dems one.
Pictured: Kemi Badenoch casts her vote in Essex
12:13 , Holly Evans
Pictured: The best dogs at polling stations as millions get voting
11:55 , Holly EvansMillions of people are expected to exercise their democratic right today in what is expected to be a stern test to Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
But while the future may remain uncertain for the prime minister, one thing can be expected: there will be dogs at the polling station.
It’s a time honoured tradition that with every election, voters bring their four-legged friends to the polling station and share photos on social media to encourage others to get voting.
From Miniature Schnauzers to Jack Russell Terriers, furry friends of all sorts of shapes and sizes will accompany their owners on this democratic dog walk.
Read the full article here:
Pictured: The best dogs at polling stations as millions get voting
Welsh Reform leader calls on voters to 'stop another Labour and Plaid stitch-up'
11:46 , Holly EvansIn a statement on Wednesday, Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas said: “Tomorrow is a historic opportunity for us to deliver real change here in Wales, but we can only do that if we stop another Labour and Plaid stitch-up.
“That’s why we need to deliver a result too big for the political establishment to ignore.
“A vote for the Tories or any other party is a wasted vote, and will let Plaid in.
“Vote Reform to scrap blanket 20mph, end the Nation of Sanctuary and put Welsh families first.”
Party leaders in Scotland place their votes in Holyrood elections
11:35 , Holly EvansScotland’s party leaders have been arriving at their local polling stations as the country goes to the polls.
Scottish Labour’s leader Anas Sarwar voted at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow, accompanied by his wife Furheen and two sons.
Reform UK’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord voted at St James’ Church in Edinburgh.
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton was at Davidson’s Mains Parish Church, accompanied by his wife Gill and dog Bramble.
Scottish Conservative Party leader Russell Findlay arrived by bicycle at the Cleveden Secondary School polling station in Glasgow.
Scottish Green Party co-leader Gillian Mackay voted at Laurieston Community Hall, accompanied by her partner Alex and their son.
Earlier, SNP leader John Swinney voted in Burrelton in Blairgowrie with his wife Elizabeth by his side.
Do I need ID to vote in the elections in Scotland, Wales or England?
11:25 , Holly EvansVoters across the UK are heading to their local polling stations to take part in elections for the Welsh and Scottish parliaments, as well as thousands of seats on English councils.
Since May 2023, voters have been required to bring photographic identification for certain elections. This came after parliament passed the Elections Act in April 2022, enacting a recommendation the Electoral Commission first made in 2014.
Voter ID is now required at by-elections and recall petitions, general elections, local elections and referendums in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.
Read the full details here:
Do I need ID to vote in the elections in Scotland, Wales or England?
Welsh first minister Eluned Morgan casts her vote
11:12 , Holly EvansThe first minister has cast her vote as Wales goes to the polls in the Senedd election.
Voters have until 10pm on Thursday to cast their ballot to elect the next members of the Welsh Parliament, in a contest that could result in a seismic shift in Welsh politics.
First minister Baroness Eluned Morgan, the leader of Welsh Labour, cast her vote in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, on Thursday, with her husband.
Lady Morgan has seen her party languish in the polls over recent months, and even told constituents she could be at risk of losing her seat.
She urged people not to use the election as a “protest vote” against Sir Keir Starmer, but has also had to defend Welsh Labour’s record after more than two decades of the party leading Wales.
Zack Polanski joins Welsh Green Party leader in Penarth
11:03 , Holly Evans
Plaid Cymru leader says Wales 'stands on a crossroads'
10:45 , Holly EvansLabour has led Wales for more than two decades but, if polls are to be believed, Plaid Cymru and Reform are vying to become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament after May 7.
Speaking on Wednesday, Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “Our nation stands on a crossroads.
“We have a choice of two futures, it is that choice based on hope, a vision for the future that Plaid Cymru represents, and I hope people make the positive choice based on our values, based on our vision.
“But the other option for Wales on this crossroads represents division.
“It is the old Westminster establishment, marred by the same old self-interest and the same old scandal.
“That’s what Nigel Farage represents in this election.”
SNP leader casts his vote in Perthshire
10:41 , Holly EvansSNP leader John Swinney has cast his vote for the Holyrood elections.
Mr Swinney voted in Burrelton in Blairgowrie with his wife Elizabeth by his side.
Watch: Glasgow voters go to polls as Scots elect new Holyrood Parliament
10:37 , Holly EvansZack Polanski urges voters to vote Green and 'make hope normal again'
10:29 , Holly EvansIn a post to his social media on Thursday morning, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said the UK has a “toxic combination of low wages and high bills”.
He said: “We need to make life affordable for everyone. Make hope normal again & Vote Green.”
We have a toxic combination of low wages and high bills.
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) May 7, 2026
We need to make life affordable for everyone.
Make hope normal again & Vote Green. 💚
(& remember to take photo ID to the polling station!) pic.twitter.com/yIlGPquyW0
Pictured: Nigel Farage voting in Clacton
10:20 , Holly Evans
Keir Starmer ‘to unveil plans for closer ties to EU’ to stave off leadership challenge
10:09 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is expected to use plans for closer ties with the European Union as part of an attempt to stave off a leadership challenge in the wake of Thursday’s local elections, which are expected to be disastrous for Labour.
The prime minister is reportedly planning to deliver a speech in the days after the results, which will include a commitment to closer ties with the bloc in a bid to tackle the cost of living crisis caused by the Iran war.
According to The Times, Sir Keir will make the case that the conflict has demonstrated Britain “cannot afford to ignore” the benefits of closer relations with Brussels – whilst emphasising that his red lines on no return to freedom of movement or the single market remain in place.
Read the full article from our political correspondent Millie Cooke:
Starmer ‘to unveil plans for closer ties to EU’ to stave off leadership challenge
Plaid Cymru leader and his family vote in Anglesey
10:01 , Holly Evans
Where are the local elections taking place?
09:54 , Holly EvansIn pictures: Dogs, dogs and more dogs head to voting polls
09:40 , Holly Evans
What voter ID will you need for the England local elections?
09:28 , Holly EvansMore than 20 forms of ID will be accepted at polling stations in England, including:
- passports
- driving licences
- older or Disabled Person's bus passes
- Oyster 60+ cards
- Armed Forces Veteran Cards
- a Blue Badge
- a PASS card
- e-visa
You can check the full list here.
You can use out-of-date photo ID as long as you look the same. If you wear a face covering such as a veil or a medical mask, you will be asked to remove it briefly for an ID check.
Voters in Scotland and Wales do not need to show ID to vote in the Scottish Parliament or Senedd elections.
What time will results be announced and is there an exit poll?
09:13 , Holly EvansAlmost 25,000 candidates are fighting to be elected to more than 5,000 seats on 136 councils across England, with Reform UK fielding around 4,800, less than 100 fewer than Labour and some 50 more than the Conservatives.
The Greens have almost 4,500 candidates, with the Liberal Democrats on just under 4,000 and there are more than 2,000 other candidates from minor parties or standing as independents or for residents’ groups.
Labour are defending some 2,500 of the seats being contested, meaning potential problems for prime minister Sir Keir Starmer if the party loses large numbers of councillors.
Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on May 7, with the first results expected within a few hours, and the final one on the evening of Saturday May 9.
Polling stations open as Scots elect new Holyrood Parliament
09:05 , Holly EvansPolling stations across Scotland have opened as the country elects a new batch of MSPs to Holyrood.
Voters have until 10pm on Thursday to cast their ballot in a contest that will decide who Scotland’s MSPs will be – as well as determining who will be first minister.
A total of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament are up for grabs, with voters electing 73 constituency representatives, with a further 56 MSPs elected via eight regional lists.
Unlike previous elections – other than 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic – votes will be counted on Friday rather than overnight, with the final result likely to be known by late Friday evening.
First Minister John Swinney’s SNP has led the polls since the beginning of the campaign, with Mr Swinney telling voters a majority for his party – a rarity in the Holyrood voting system – will allow him to put more pressure on Westminster to grant a second referendum on independence.
You do not need ID to vote in person in the Scottish Parliament, unlike the council election in England.
Plaid Cymru leader calls on Welsh voters to pick a party 'with no master in Westminster'
08:59 , Holly EvansPlaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has called on voters to choose a party that “will always put national interest before self-interest”.
Polls on Wednesday show Labour are set for a historic defeat in Wales after leading the Senedd for 27 years, in what will be a humiliating blow for Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Service is a value which has always sustained Wales. It’s a value instilled in me from a young age by my parents, both teachers. It’s a value I’ve sought to pass on to my children - the gift of giving back to the people and places who gave us so much.
“Tomorrow is a chance for the people of Wales to choose who serves our nation for the next four years. It’s Plaid Cymru’s deep sense of service to Wales - focusing just on our needs and our future - that first drew me to politics.
“We’re a party with no master in Westminster, no instructions to follow or interference - we take our cue from the people of Wales. And as your first minister, service is a value that would guide me every day.
“Plaid Cymru offers new leadership defined not by scripts signed-off by others, but by loyalty to the people and communities who have shaped me. New leadership which places compassion and credibility at its heart, and which replaces the old way of doing things with new humility and real ambition for Wales.
“So tomorrow, Wales can seize that chance, we can vote for a party ready and willing to serve you, the people of Wales, and for a first minister who will always put national interest before self-interest. Vote for Plaid Cymru.”
In pictures: Dogs galore at polling stations across the UK
08:50 , Holly EvansIt is not only voters that are heading to the polls on Thursday - many will be accompanied by their faithful four-legged friends.
What is each party offering voters?
08:32 , Holly EvansPolitical parties are battling it out as constituents head to the polls next week to vote in the crunch local elections.
Voters across the country are set to cast their ballots on May 7 as thousands of council seats come up for grabs, as well as the chance to vote for some local mayors, and the Scottish and Welsh governments.
Labour is expected to face a wipeout at the elections, a result widely expected to see leadership challenges raised to topple Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
The party - which is defending 2,557 seats in these elections - is expected to haemorrhage votes to both Reform on the right and the Greens on the left.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives are also expecting big losses in the local elections, with Nigel Farage’s party expected to take over many formerly Tory authorities.
Read the full explainer here from our political correspondent Athena Stavrou:
Kemi Badenoch makes final plea for Tory votes
08:24 , Holly EvansConservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party is the only one “with the plan, the team and the backbone to deliver a stronger economy and stronger country”.
She added: “Under my leadership the Conservative Party has changed. We know where we went wrong and we’re fixing it.
“The next Conservative government will deliver cheaper energy bills, take back our streets with 10,000 more police officers, cut business rates for the high street, end the war on motorists, and abolish stamp duty on the family home.”
Today is the day!
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) May 7, 2026
After weeks of campaigning across the country, now it’s time to send a message.
Get out, take your ID, and vote Conservative🗳️ https://t.co/r3TyNTzM4g
In pictures: Caravan used as a polling station in Cambridgeshire
08:19 , Holly Evans
Starmer casts his ballot in local elections
08:06 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer cast his vote in the local elections at Westminster Chapel in central London on Thursday morning.
Walking hand-in-hand with his wife, Victoria, Sir Keir spent around two minutes in the polling station before leaving.
He did not respond when asked by reporters how he was feeling and if he would resign if the Labour Party performs poorly, as some projections have forecast.
Shortly before the prime minister arrived, a member of the public remarked on the huddle of photographers outside Westminster Chapel, saying: “If I’d known you guys were all rocking up, I would have worn something different!”
In pictures: The dogs have arrived
07:55 , Holly Evans
Pictured: Starmer and his wife arrive at polling station
07:52 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria arrive to cast their votes in the local elections at Westminster Chapel in central London.
Nigel Farage brands Starmer 'gutless' as he makes appeal for voters
07:39 , Holly EvansIn his final message ahead of the polls opening, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hit out at Sir Keir, branding him “gutless” and accused the Tories of failing to remove the “unpatriotic” Prime Minister.
He added: “Together, we can continue the journey of getting our great country back on track.
“Reform made history and won the local elections last year. If you really want change, go out and vote for it again today.”
Cabinet ministers not thought to be calling for Starmer's departure
07:25 , Holly EvansCabinet ministers are not said to be among those committed to signing a letter to oust the prime minister, although there are rumblings of a potential leadership tilt by health secretary Wes Streeting, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner or Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden insisted on Wednesday that Sir Keir was in a “resolute” mood and triggering a leadership contest would be a mistake.
Labour Party deputy leader Lucy Powell signalled her support for Sir Keir on the eve of the elections but sidestepped questions about whether he should lead the party into the next general election.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stood by Sir Keir, describing him as a “level-headed” leader in an interview with LBC, adding “the last thing that people will want is the Labour Party turning in on ourselves”.
Lib Dem leader warns voters of 'less than 24 hours' to stop Reform UK
07:13 , Holly EvansLiberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is calling on voters to opt for “hard-working local champions” and to put a stop to Reform UK.
He added: “We have less than 24 hours to stop Reform and defend the country we love from Nigel Farage’s Trump-style politics.
“We’ve now seen what Reform looks like in power – banning journalists, scrapping renewables, closing care homes and raising council tax despite their promises. Our communities can’t afford that chaos.
“Across the country, from Hampshire to Hull, the battle is now between the Liberal Democrats and Reform. We are the ones taking the fight to them and standing up for decency, tolerance and the rule of law.
PM to reportedly face leadership challenge after results
07:10 , Holly EvansMPs are reportedly moving to oust the Prime Minister in the wake of the results.
Backbenchers from the 2024 intake are plotting to write a missive blaming the Prime Minister for expected losses at the polls and asking him to set a date for his departure, according to the Times newspaper.
The move would echo the drafting of a round-robin letter by normally loyal Labour MPs calling for Sir Tony Blair to step down in September 2006.
Sir Keir Starmer to face biggest test of his premiership
07:04 , Holly EvansToday’s elections are set to be crucial for Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, with devastating results predicted for the Labour Party.
Some 1,850 Labour seats are expected to be lost in councils across England, according to polling guru Lord Robert Hayward.
Labour’s prospects look equally painful in Wales where the governing party is set to lose the national vote for the first time in more than a century.
The Prime Minister has acknowledged the elections will be “a challenge” but in a final plea to voters he urged them to “choose unity over division”.
Almost 25,000 candidates are fighting to be elected to more than 5,000 seats on 136 councils across England.
In Scotland, all 129 seats are up for election at Holyrood while voters in Wales will choose 96 members of the Senedd.
BREAKING: Polls open as Labour forecast historic defeat
07:01 , Holly EvansPolls have now opened for millions of voters across England, Scotland and wales.
Labour are forecast a historic defeat in the Welsh Senedd elections, having been the largest party for more than a century and holding the Parliament for 27 years.
Opinion polls in Wales have consistently forecast Plaid Cymru and Reform to become the biggest parties in the Senedd.
