Millions of voters across England, Wales, and Scotland are heading to the polls on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in a crucial day for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his opponents. Thousands of council seats in England are up for grabs, while voters in Wales and Scotland will elect their national parliaments.
England: Thousands of Council Seats Contested
A total of 5,013 councillors will be elected in England, with elections held for 134 of the country's 317 councils. These include 32 London boroughs, six county councils, and six unitary authorities, including the newly created East Surrey and West Surrey. Labour is defending 2,557 seats, the Conservatives 1,362, and the Liberal Democrats 684. A further 410 seats are held by other parties, including independents.
Experts predict Labour could lose hundreds of seats despite Starmer's plea for voters to "choose progress over politics of anger." The Tories are also expected to face a difficult day, while Nigel Farage's Reform UK is tipped to be the biggest winner. Polls are open from 7am to 10pm, with results expected from the early hours of Friday.
Wales and Scotland: National Parliament Elections
In Wales, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) will see 96 members elected, up from the current 60. Wales has 16 constituencies, each electing six members. In Scotland, the long-anticipated Holyrood election will see voters elect 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar made headlines in February when he called for Keir Starmer to step down. Ahead of the crunch poll, Starmer wrote in the Mirror: "On Thursday, when you go to put your vote in the ballot box, there's a clear choice on that piece of paper. Unity or division. Progress versus the politics of anger."
Expert Predictions
Top election expert Robert Hayward said Labour is on course to lose around 1,800 seats, while the Tories may shed about 600. Reform UK could pick up around 1,500 seats, with the Greens poised to win around 500. If you're unsure whether there's an election in your area, use our helpful tool to check your postcode.
