Local elections 2026 live: Starmer faces make-or-break test as millions head to the polls – UK Times

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.

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Sir 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.”

In 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.

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.

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In 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.”

Scotland’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.

Voters 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.

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