Local elections 2021 LIVE – Polls open across UK in biggest local voting for decades with Labour 10 points behind Tories
WELCOME to The Sun's Election 2021 live blog, where you'll find all the latest news, polling and updates on the largest local vote in decades.
Approximately 28 million people will be able to cast a vote for about 4,650 positions of power today – a much larger number than usual after much of the voting was delayed last year due to covid.
Polls close at 10pm this evening and a standard election would see votes counted overnight and declared the following day.
But this year some counts won't take place until Friday or even Saturday this year with coronavirus measures expected to slow the process down.
Some polling centres are being used for vaccinations or can not facilitate social distancing.
With tens of millions placing their votes today, we'll bring you everything you need to know to keep up to date.
Read our Local Elections 2021 live blog below for up to the minute updates…
- Niamh Cavanagh
'COPS EVERYWHERE' – BREAKING
A "major incident" has locked down a Paisley street outside a polling station.
Police have cordoned off the town's Broomlands Street with eyewitnesses describing "officers everywhere".
Martyrs Church Hall, located on the street, is an official voting station for today's Scottish Election.
One eyewitness said: "Some kind of major incident in Paisley. Several police vans, cars and several incident support unit outside a polling station."
- Niamh Cavanagh
HOW DO I VOTE?
Voters will continue to have access to three methods of voting:
- In person at a polling station
- By postal vote
- By proxy vote
The government adds: "We are changing the rules for proxy voting to ensure that anyone who is self-isolating can request a proxy vote at the last minute – up to 5pm on polling day itself.
"Voting in person will still be available for all those who would like to, and there will be no change to the hours of polling."
Voters are encouraged to bring their own pens or pencils.
WHO IS STANDING FOR POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER?
The PPC elections cover police forces in England and Wales, but do not include the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police or the City of London Police.
You can find out who is standing to be PCC at choosemypcc.org.uk.
All you need to do is add your postcode and it will give you a list of candidates.
Each candidate will have an election statement, which will help in your decision.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHERE IS MY NEAREST POLLING STATION?
People voting in person should have already received a polling card in the post.
Details of where you have to go will be printed on the card, usually along with a map.
You have to vote in the polling station you have been allocated.
Polling stations can be set up anywhere, from schools and leisure centres to laundrettes.
Usually, they will be within easy walking distance or a short drive from your home.
- Niamh Cavanagh
KEIR LEAVES POLLING STATION
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer leaves after casting his vote at Greenwood Centre polling station at St Albans Church, north London.
Credit: PA - Niamh Cavanagh
WHO WILL WIN THE LONDON MAYORAL ELECTION 2021?
A record-breaking 20 candidates are in the running this year.
So far Labour candidate Khan has been leading the polls followed by his closest rival Bailey.
A recent poll by ComRes for ITV London, suggests Sadiq Khan leads on his Conservative Shaun Bailey, by 41% to 28% on first preference votes.
Next is Lib Dems candidate Luisa Porritt with 8 per cent, and Sian Berry of the Green Party with 6 per cent.
The online survey was answered by more than 1,000 adult Londoners and it was carried out between April 13 and 19.
- Niamh Cavanagh
KEIR STARMER VOTES
Sir Keir Starmer has voted at a polling station inside a community support centre in north London.
The Labour leader arrived on foot at the Greenwood Centre in Kentish Town at 9.30am, accompanied by his wife Victoria.
He left the building around four minutes later and walked away hand-in-hand with his wife while followed by photographers.
Asked by a reporter how he was feeling, Sir Keir said: "Good".
- Niamh Cavanagh
SUPER THURSDAY'S LATEST NEWS
- Here's your ultimate guide to the Super Thursday elections
- The lowdown on all the candidates standing for London Mayor
- Meet the runners and riders in the crucial Hartlepool by-election
- And find everyone who's standing for election in your local area
- Are you allowed to take dogs with you to vote?
- Find out when the polling stations close today
- The new rules around casting your ballot to keep you safe from Covid
- Should you take your own pencil when going to vote?
POLLING STATIONS ACROSS THE UK
A local election polling station at the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean, Hampshire.
- Niamh Cavanagh
EXPLAINER – WHEN WILL THE RESULTS COME IN?
We're not expecting these results to come in all overnight as they usually do – so don't expect to see too many ballot boxes flying in to be counted like we usually do on election night.
It's expected that the first result will be for the Hartlepool by-election, likely before 4am on Friday morning.
The Doncaster Mayoral election is also expected to deliver results overnight or in the morning.
That will give us a good indication of whether Boris Johnson is doing well, or Sir Keir Starmer is making inroads.
But most other results will come afterwards, taking hours or even days longer.
- Niamh Cavanagh
VAX TO THE WALL
Boris Johnson is eyeing a hat-trick of historic wins in Labour's crumbling Red Wall heartlands as the Tories head into today's "Super Thursday" elections with a whopping 10 point poll lead.
The Tories are on course for an earth-shattering victory in Hartlepool that would throw Sir Keir Starmer's leadership into crisis.
And they are also poised to scoop two key mayoral races in the West Midlands and Tees Valley in a triple whammy.
A win for the Conservatives in Hartlepool would be the first time the seat has not been held by Labour since it came into being 38 years ago.
- Niamh Cavanagh
EXPLAINER – IS THERE AN EXIT POLL?
No there won't be – these only happen in general elections usually.
There may be on-the-day polling from pollsters on Thursday showing the state of play of the two main parties.
- Niamh Cavanagh
POLLING STATIONS ACROSS THE UK
A ballot box and washing machines are seen inside Ace Launderette, which is being used as a polling station during local elections in Oxford.
Credit: Reuters - Niamh Cavanagh
EXPLAINER – WHAT SEATS ARE BEING ELECTED?
There are a total of 5,000 seats up for grabs. That breaks down as seats on 143 English councils, plus 129 Scottish parliament seats, 60 Welsh Assembly seats, 25 London Assembly members, 13 directly elected mayors, 39 police and crime commissioners and a Westminster by-election to elect a new MP. One new West Yorkshire Mayoral post is expected too.
Here's a full list of elections taking place on Super Thursday:
- Senedd elections (in Wales)
- Scottish Parliament elections
- English local government elections (includes polls postponed from May 2020), including elections to county, district and parish councils
- Police and Crime Commissioners (polls postponed from May 2020)
- Combined Authority Mayoral (includes polls postponed from May 2020)
- Local Mayoral (includes polls postponed from May 2020)
- Mayor of London and London Assembly (polls postponed from May 2020)
SEATS IN THE RUNNING FOR TODAY'S ELECTION
- Niamh Cavanagh
KEY BATTLEGROUNDS IN TODAY'S ELECTION
Dubbed "Super Thursday", ballots will be cast for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, regional mayors and a crunch by-election in Hartlepool.
More than 5,000 council seats are also up for grabs, along with a handful of local police and crime commissioners.
Sir Keir, who is facing the country for the first time as Labour leader, is desperate to claw back voters in the party's traditional strongholds that switched to the Tories at the 2019 General Election.
But recent polling projects the PM to make further inroads at what's left of the Red Wall.
The future of the United Kingdom is also at stake as Nicola Sturgeon looks to clinch an SNP majority to demand another independence referendum.
- Niamh Cavanagh
BORIS JOHNSON LEAVES POLLING STATION WITH PARTNER CARRIE SYMONDS
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cast his vote at Methodist Central Hall in London.
The former London mayor arrived at the polling station at just before 8am on the chilly so-called Super Thursday morning, arm-in-arm with fiancee Carrie Symonds.
He emerged two minutes later and waved at members of the press outside the building as he made his way back to his car.
Credit: AP Credit: AP - Niamh Cavanagh
TODAY'S ELECTION 'MOST IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT' SAYS STURGEON
Commenting as Scotland goes to the polls today, SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon said:
“Today’s election is the most important in the history of the Scottish Parliament. After a year of unprecedented challenge for all of us, the country needs experienced leadership to take Scotland through the pandemic – and only the SNP are offering a serious programme for government to keep Scotland safe and into a recovery.
“If I am re-elected First Minister, I guarantee I’ll be back at my desk straight away tackling the pandemic.
“And when the COVID crisis has passed, we will give the people of Scotland the opportunity to decide if they want the recovery to be in the hands of the likes of Boris Johnson and the austerity-driven Tories, or to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands with independence.
“Despite the challenges of the last year, we should be optimistic about Scotland’s future – and with the right leadership I know that we have the natural resources and human talent to deliver the fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland that we all want to see.
“I'm asking people to give both votes to the SNP today to help elect an experienced government with the serious plan to lead Scotland through the pandemic and into a brighter future.”
- Niamh Cavanagh
BORIS SEEN RUNNING AHEAD OF VOTING TODAY
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was out seen running this morning ahead of casting his vote as the country goes to the polls at the local elections.
Credit: Nigel Howard - Joseph Gamp
POLLING STATIONS OPEN AS BRITS CAST THEIR VOTES
Polling stations for all UK elections opened at 7am and are open until 10pm this evening.
You will be allowed to vote as long as you are in the queue before closing time.
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: WE ASK NICOLA STURGEON TEN QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
We ask Nicola Sturgeon 10 quick fire questions
- Joseph Gamp
LONDON MAYOR CANDIDATES 2021: WHO IS STANDING?
LONDONERS will be able to vote on who will become the capital’s next mayor tomorrow (May 6).
A record-breaking 20 candidates are in the running but what do we know about them so far?
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
WHO IS MIKE HILL AND WHY DID HE QUIT AS A LABOUR MP?
FORMER Labour MP quit in March 2021 over claims of "sexual harassment and victimisation".
Mr Hill, who was elected as MP for Hartlepool in 2017 has denied the allegations.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
WHICH LOCAL COUNCIL AND MAYORAL ELECTIONS ARE TAKING PLACE TODAY?
There are 343 councils in England, but not every authority will be holding elections.
This is because elections take place in four-year cycles, so different councils hold polls in varying years. The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) said that “with two years worth of elections, it’s going to be ‘Super Thursday’.”
It adds that in England, the 2021 elections include more than 150 local authority elections in hundreds of wards and divisions for both the delayed elections of 2020, plus the scheduled elections of 2021. Votes will also be cast on:
- 143 English local councils – some 5,000 seat
- 13 directly elected mayors
- 39 police and crime commissioners
- 25 London Assembly seats
- 129 Scottish Parliament MSPs
- 60 Welsh Senedd MSs
- By-elections
- Neighbourhood Plan referenda
- Parish councils
There are about 5,000 council seats up for grabs across England.
GRAPHIC: THE SEATS IN THE RUNNING
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