UK Goes to Polls in Major Test for Starmer's Labour

Millions of voters across the United Kingdom are casting ballots Thursday in the country’s largest set of elections since Labour came to power in 2024, with national parliaments, local councils and mayoralties all being contested.

The elections are not a general election, meaning seats in the UK Parliament at Westminster are not on the ballot. Instead, voters are choosing representatives for devolved governments in Scotland and Wales, along with thousands of local officials in England.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. BST and will close at 10 p.m., with the first results expected overnight.

In Scotland, all 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood are up for election. Voters are choosing 73 constituency members of the Scottish Parliament and 56 regional MSPs, with each voter receiving two ballots.

In Wales, every seat in the Senedd is being contested. The election is being held under a new expanded system, increasing the number of members from 60 to 96. The new Welsh Parliament will represent 16 newly created constituencies.

In England, around 5,000 council seats are being contested across 136 local authorities. Some councils are holding elections for every seat, while others are voting on only part of their membership. Other areas of England have no local elections on Thursday.

Six mayoral contests are also taking place, covering Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford.

Although the elections will not change the makeup of the House of Commons, they are expected to serve as a major test of the political landscape two years into Labour’s time in government. The results will help show how voters view Labour’s performance, the Conservatives’ recovery efforts and the strength of smaller parties across different parts of the UK.

The contests also carry direct local importance. The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd oversee major public services, including health, housing and education. Local councils in England are responsible for services including social care, libraries, waste collection and local planning.

With voting already underway, parties are now focused on turnout after weeks of campaigning across national and local battlegrounds. Results from councils and mayoral races are expected first, while the full picture in Scotland and Wales may take longer to emerge.