By Blessing Nweke
Voters across the United Kingdom headed to the polls Thursday in a sweeping round of local and regional elections that could reshape British politics and deepen pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his governing Labour Party.
The elections will determine roughly 5,000 local council seats, several mayoral posts in England, and parliamentary representation in Scotland and Wales. The contests are the largest electoral test since Labour’s landslide victory in July 2024 and are widely being viewed as a referendum on Starmer’s leadership.
Polls closed at 10 p.m. local time, with many results expected Friday. Labour officials fear heavy losses after months of declining public support tied to economic struggles, rising living costs and dissatisfaction over public services.
Starmer has also faced mounting criticism over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington. The decision sparked backlash within Labour due to Mandelson’s past controversies and connections to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Political analysts say a poor performance could reignite efforts within Labour to replace Starmer before the next national election, due by 2029. Possible challengers frequently mentioned include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
The biggest gains are expected for Nigel Farage and his hard-right Reform UK party, which has campaigned aggressively on anti-immigration and anti-establishment themes. The Green Party and Liberal Democrats are also projected to make gains, while the opposition Conservatives are forecast to lose seats.
Analysts say the results may signal the collapse of Britain’s traditional two-party dominance as voters increasingly turn to smaller parties across the political spectrum.
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