The British voted on Thursday in local elections that are expected to be painful for the unpopular Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour as well as for their Conservative rivals, threatened by the anti-immigration party Reform UK and the left-wing Greens.
Since returning to power in July 2024 after 14 years in opposition, the Labour party has struggled to deliver on its growth promises, especially as the conflict in the Middle East has worsened the cost of living crisis.
Polling stations closed on Thursday at 9:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm in Switzerland) in England, Scotland, and Wales, with the first results expected overnight and throughout the day on Friday.
Surveys predict a decline for the center-left party in this first major electoral test for Keir Starmer. The 63-year-old leader’s popularity has dropped after a series of missteps, U-turns, and controversies, leading to internal temptation to replace him at Downing Street.
Immigration also crystallizes the discontent of many Britons, as the number of illegal migrants arriving through the Channel since 2018 is about to surpass 200,000.
“This election will solidify Reform’s position as a dominant force in British politics,” said Zia Yusuf, a spokesman for the far-right Reform UK party, interviewed by AFP during the election night.
More than 5,000 local elected seats were up for grabs (out of over 16,000) in England, and voters cast their ballots to renew the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments.
At a polling station in Islington, London, 61-year-old retiree Dan Ellis said he wants to “send a message nationally”: “things are not working.”
Context:
The article covers the recent local elections in the UK and the challenges faced by the Labour Party and other political parties during this electoral process.
Fact Check:
The information mentioned in the article regarding the impact of the elections on various political parties is accurate and involves statements made by party representatives and voters.
