More than 30 million people across England, Wales and Scotland are set to vote on Thursday 7 May in elections that will be a major test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour government. The elections, taking place two years into Labour's term, include contests for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, six mayoral races, and over 4,500 council seats.
Polls suggest a difficult night for Labour, which is defending the majority of councils. The party could lose more than 1,800 councillors, representing nearly three-quarters of the seats it is defending. Significant losses are also expected for the Conservative Party.
The elections will also test the electoral strength of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, and the Green Party, led by Zack Polanski, as both seek to convert rising poll numbers into actual seats. In Scotland and Wales, nationalist parties are expected to benefit, with Plaid Cymru potentially winning the Welsh Senedd for the first time, and the Scottish National Party consolidating support after earlier predictions of a Labour resurgence.
Key battlegrounds include Sunderland, where Reform UK hopes to make gains, and Hackney, where the Green Party is targeting a win. The results will be closely watched as an indicator of the political landscape ahead of the next general election.
