UK elections 2026: Polling underway across England, Scotland and Wales in major political test for Starmer govt
Polling is underway in the UK’s 2026 local, mayoral, and parliamentary elections across England, Scotland, and Wales, serving as a critical test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government amid rising support for smaller parties like Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens. The elections include 5,066 council seats in England, all 129 Scottish Parliament seats, and an expanded 96-seat Welsh Senedd, with Labour defending dominance in local governance while facing challenges from opposition parties seeking to reshape Britain’s political landscape.
Polling began on May 7 across the United Kingdom for local, mayoral, and parliamentary elections, marking the first major electoral test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government since its 2024 general election victory. Millions of voters in England, Scotland, and Wales are participating in contests that could signal shifting public sentiment, as Labour and the Conservatives struggle in polls while smaller parties like Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens gain traction. In England, voters are electing 5,066 councillors across 136 local authorities, including all 32 London boroughs, alongside six mayoral races in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Watford. Labour, which controls 66 councils, is defending its local dominance, while the Conservatives, defending nearly 1,200 seats, face pressure after recent losses. The Liberal Democrats, Green Party, and Reform UK are pushing to expand their influence, with Reform UK fielding candidates nationwide to challenge the traditional two-party system. Scotland’s elections involve all 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, where the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), led by First Minister John Swinney, aims to retain its majority after leadership turmoil following Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf’s resignations. Scottish Labour seeks to capitalize on its 2024 Westminster gains to reduce SNP dominance at Holyrood. Wales holds a historic election as the Senedd expands from 60 to 96 seats under a new proportional representation system. Welsh Labour, led by First Minister Eluned Morgan, defends its long-standing control, but Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are poised to intensify competition under the new structure. The results could reshape Wales’ political balance, particularly in Cardiff Bay, where Labour’s dominance has been tested. Analysts view the elections as a barometer for Britain’s evolving multi-party system, with Labour’s performance under Starmer and the rise of Reform UK and other opposition parties potentially altering the political landscape ahead of future national contests.
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