Local elections 2026 live: New poll shows Labour could lose control of Wales for the first time – UK Times

Labour has led Wales for more than two decades but, if opinion polls are to be believed, Plaid Cymru and Reform are vying to become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament after May 7.

The latest and final YouGov poll in this election, published on Tuesday, forecast Plaid Cymru to win 43 seats in the Senedd, pulling ahead of Reform on 34 seats and Labour on 12.

The leader of Plaid Cymru has said Wales stands at a crossroads on the eve of the Welsh Parliament election.

Speaking in Llandudno, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the country has a “choice of two futures” in the vote on Thursday.

Labour has led Wales for more than two decades but, if opinion polls are to be believed, Plaid Cymru and Reform are vying to become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament after May 7.

The latest and final YouGov poll in this election, published on Tuesday, forecast Plaid Cymru to win 43 seats in the Senedd, pulling ahead of Reform on 34 seats and Labour on 12.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr 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.”

Reform UK candidates standing in this week’s local elections appear to have posted racist and Islamophobic views on social media, as well as support for far-right figures like Tommy Robinson and Nick Griffin, The Independent can reveal.

The revelations about candidates standing for the party in seats in south-east England add to concerns that Nigel Farage is failing to tackle extremism in his party despite his claims that Reform’s vetting system is the best in British politics.

Read the full article from our political editor David Maddox here:

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives are facing the new reality of multi-party politics as she braces for losses in the local elections.

She insisted she was leading a “new party” and hoped for some eye-catching successes when results come through on Friday, but acknowledged that the old era of Tory and Labour national dominance was over.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have consistently led national opinion polls for more than a year and are poised to make big inroads in councils across England and in the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary contests.

Mrs Badenoch insisted she would not do any deals with her rivals and claimed her party had been helped by troublemakers defecting to Mr Farage’s party.

She said: “What we’re going to see on Friday is what multi-party politics looks like. The two-party era has moved into a multi-party era.

“But the fact is none of these new parties or Labour have a plan for the country. What’s astonishing is that a Labour government that came in less than two years ago on a landslide has become so unpopular.

“They thought governing was easy. It is not.

“The people who know how to govern, who know how to run things, are Conservatives.”

Mr Farage claimed Reform UK – which has only been around in its current form since January 2021 – had broken the grip of Labour and Conservatives, winning 677 council seats and carving deep inroads in the parties’ long-established heartlands, by taking over 10 councils.

On the back of promises to scrap net zero, target wasteful spending and fix potholes, the right-wing party looked to have hit the right note with disillusioned communities across the country.

But not long after the tables to count ballot papers were folded up, and the election campaign posters were taken down, problems began to arise as the party started to take the reins of local authorities with multimillion-pound budgets.

Read the full story from our reporter Alex Ross here:

Scots have a chance to “make history” on election day and remove the SNP after nearly two decades of power, Anas Sarwar has said.

In a rallying cry to members on the eve of the election, the Scottish Labour leader said his party could “pull off a surprise” and outdo the polls.

He insisted Labour was fighting to win the election and form the next government despite surveys suggesting the party could face a historic defeat and end in third place behind Reform and the SNP.

Asked whether he would continue as leader for the rest of the next parliament, regardless of the outcome of the election, Mr Sarwar said: “I look forward to leading Scottish Labour and leading the next Scottish Government into supporting this great country for the next five years.”

The Scottish Labour leader was introduced by a teary Jackie Baillie, his deputy, and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, with Ms Baillie telling the crowd that the party had one clear message: “Reject Reform, beat the SNP, change Scotland.”

Mr Sarwar, who received a standing ovation from the audience in Glasgow, urged voters to give him five years to improve Scotland’s hospitals, schools and streets after nearly 20 years of “managed decline” under the SNP.

He said: “You have given John Swinney and the SNP 20 years – give me five.

“In that time, we will demonstrate that we can fix the NHS, we can make life more affordable and we can build a better future for Scotland.

“But that means rejecting Reform, beating the SNP, changing Scotland, and the only way to do that is by voting Scottish Labour.”

The Equality Act 2010 – which replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single act – legally protects those with protected characteristics, including pregnancy and maternity, from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It makes it unlawful to fire, harass, or disadvantage women because they are pregnant, have a pregnancy-related illness, or are on maternity leave.

Read the full exclusive from our political correspondent Millie Cooke here:

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to go into polling day “fighting for every vote” but acknowledged Labour could be in for a “challenge”, as political leaders conclude their local election campaign trails.

Wednesday marks the final full day of campaigning before polls open on Thursday across England, Scotland and Wales.

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 in Holyrood, while voters in Wales will choose a set of 96 members of the Senedd.

At a Labour campaign rally in south London on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir was asked how he could convince voters to support his party in Thursday’s election, as it faces a slump in opinion polls.

“As you can see, we’ve got a fantastic Labour team working every single day in London and across the country, campaigning with fantastic councillors and candidates and with a very positive message,” he replied.

“Of course, it’s going to be a challenge, but it is really important we go in fighting for every vote, which has to be earned, in relation to this.”

Nigel Farage has responded to Zack Polanski’s claim to have been a British Red Cross spokesperson by suggesting he may be a “fantasists”.

The Reform UK leader told journalists: “Maybe Polanski’s a fantasist – I’m not sure.”

Asked whether his own CV was “clear of anything”, Mr Farage told broadcasters: “How many years has my CV been looked at in public? I would suggest it’s been going on for at least 15 years.”

Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with us, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara and ex-special advisor to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, Cleo Watson. You might also know us as the hosts of The Independent’s politics podcast, In The Room.

Follow the link here to join the full Q&A: