Local elections live: Labour, Reform and Tories prepare for results as polls close and vote counting begins

Counting is about to start because the polls shut proper now.

Most councils is not going to start counting the votes of native and mayoral elections till the morning, however a handful of outcomes will arrive in a single day.

Sean O’Grady explains why political leanings are so fragmented:

Voting in 9 locations has been postponed till subsequent 12 months. Full particulars:

With dozens of councils, mayoralties and a high-stakes parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby up for grabs, the outcomes may reshape the political map in methods that may reverberate far past Thursday night time.

So, which seats actually matter? How a lot bother are the Tories in? Can Reform flip headlines into votes? And the way fragile is Labour’s new electoral coalition?

Be part of The Unbiased’s chief political commentator John Rentoul reside at noon tomorrow as he solutions your questions on all the important thing contests, social gathering methods, and what the outcomes inform us about Britain’s fast-changing political panorama:

Voters heading to the polls at this time might want to carry a type of ID in an effort to solid their ballots – and can already must have registered to vote.

There are greater than 20 sorts of photographic ID that are legitimate, equivalent to passports, driving licences, older and disabled individuals’ bus passes, armed forces veteran playing cards, and Oyster 60+ playing cards.

In an interview with Sky Information on Wednesday, Nigel Farage claimed he anticipated Reform to win “two or three” of the six mayoralties up for election at this time, claiming he was “assured” of a win in Hull and “moderately assured” of victory in Lincolnshire.

He additionally stated he was “optimistic” in regards to the Runcorn and Helsby by-election however stopped wanting predicting a win.

Nigel Farage has referred to as for an finish to the NHS being funded by taxes, however refused to say how it will be paid for as a substitute.

The Reform UK chief sparked recent fears that sufferers could be charged for accessing the well being service if he gained a common election, arguing the present mannequin “doesn’t work”.

In an interview on the eve of the native elections, Mr Farage stated: “I don’t need it funded by common taxation. It does not work. It isn’t working. We’re getting worse bang for the buck than every other nation, notably out of these European neighbours.”

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell stories:

Canines have been photographed posing exterior polling stations, as their homeowners inspired folks to do their “civic responsibility” and vote within the numerous elections taking place throughout the nation.

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin stories:

Doncaster is the one council Labour is defending at this 12 months’s elections, and the social gathering at the moment holds 41 of 55 seats right here.

On a really unhealthy night time for the Labour they may lose general management of the council to Nigel Farage’s Reform, for whom this can be a high goal.