Voters across England, Scotland and Wales go to the polls on Thursday 7 May for local, mayoral and devolved elections. More than 30 million people are expected to vote in what is seen as a major test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour government, two years after taking office.
Labour is defending the majority of councils up for election, but polls predict heavy losses. The party could lose over 1,800 councillors, almost three-quarters of the seats it is defending. The Conservative Party is also expected to suffer significant losses.
In Scotland and Wales, nationalist parties are predicted to gain. Plaid Cymru could win the Welsh Senedd for the first time, while the Scottish National Party is expected to consolidate its support after earlier predictions of a Labour revival.
For smaller parties, the elections are a test of whether surging popularity can translate into seats. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, and the Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, are both hoping to convert poll ratings into real political power.
Key races include the Sunderland mayoral contest, where Reform is expected to challenge, and Hackney, where the Greens could win. Six mayoral races are taking place alongside elections for more than 4,500 councillors in city and county councils across England.
