Millions of voters are set to participate in local elections on Thursday in various regions of England, as well as in Scotland and Wales. The elections will cover around 5,000 seats across 134 councils in England, including all 32 boroughs in London. In Wales, a new proportional voting system will determine the election of 96 members of the Senedd across 16 constituencies. Meanwhile, in Scotland, 129 seats will be contested at Holyrood.
Results are expected to start emerging from English councils in the early hours of Friday, with Wales and Scotland likely to announce results later in the afternoon. Some areas in England may not conclude their counts until Saturday due to potential delays in verifying and counting ballots, as well as any recounts and variations in turnout.
Polling stations will be open from 7 am to 10 pm on Thursday, after which counting will commence in different locations across the country. Unlike a General Election, there won’t be an exit poll predicting results. Instead, results will gradually unfold overnight, with live coverage keeping voters informed.
For those interested in following the overnight drama, the first results are anticipated in Broxbourne and Halton at 1 am, followed by Harlow at 1:30 am, and Redditch at 1:45 am. Subsequent results are expected from various areas starting at 2 am, including Chorley, Hart, Hull, Hartlepool, North East Lincolnshire, Lincoln, and Rochford. Tamworth and Wigan are scheduled for declaration at 2:30 am.
Around a dozen councils are expected to declare results around 3 am, including Portsmouth, Exeter, Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Brentwood, Oxford, Reading, Peterborough, Manchester areas like Salford, Tameside, and Bolton. Declarations from Dudley, Westminster, and Colchester are expected around 3:30 am.
Key races to watch out for include potential challenges to Labour in Lincoln, Hartlepool, and Bolton, as well as the Green Party’s performance in Central Manchester and Salford. The outcome in Exeter is also notable as Labour faces competition from Reform and the Greens.
From 4 am, results are projected from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Plymouth, Gosport, Fareham, Havant, Wandsworth, Hampshire County, Sutton, and Ealing. The following hours will see numerous declarations across various regions, indicating shifts in political landscapes and party strengths.
As the day progresses, more results are expected, revealing the political landscape in different regions. The evolving results will provide insights into the changing dynamics and voter preferences, shaping the future governance of local councils.
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