UK voters head to the polls in local elections

Voters in England, Scotland and Wales are casting their ballots in local elections.Millions of people across the United Kingdom are heading to the polls in what is shaping up to be the most significant electoral test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s embattled government since it rose to power in a landslide victory in 2024.Voters in England, Scotland and Wales are casting their ballots in local elections where far-right and left-wing parties are projected to make gains, dealing a heavy blow to the governing Labour Party.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Green Party wins UK by-election in blow to Labour, PM Starmerlist 2 of 4Who is Zack Polanski, UK Greens leader and rising political star?list 3 of 4UK PM Starmer admits Mandelson mistake, rejects resignation callslist 4 of 4‘Starmer’s referendum’: How local elections could expose a fractured UKend of listThe elections will determine the composition of some 5,000 local council seats, a number of mayoral positions across England, as well as seats in the Scottish and Welsh devolved parliaments.Polls opened at 7am (06:00 GMT) and will close at 10pm (21:00 GMT). Results are expected overnight, with some likely on Friday.Under the first-past-the-post system (FPTP) used particularly in England, a candidate needs only more votes than their rivals, not a majority, to win.The prime minister cast his vote earlier in the day alongside his wife, Victoria Starmer, at Westminster Chapel.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced increasing pressure over his leadership of the Labour Party [File: Hannah McKay/Reuters]Starmer’s popularity has plunged since he took office, with his government struggling to deliver economic growth, as households face a cost-of-living crisis in part caused by rising energy prices tied to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.He has also been embroiled in a scandal over Peter Mandelson, who was fired as United States ambassador over his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.