In just a few weeks, millions of voters will head to the polls when more than 5,000 council seats will be up for grabs across England.
Elections are taking place for 136 local authorities on 7 May, including some of the UK’s largest cities and the whole of London. Several urban authorities and rural districts will also be holding ballots, alongside some county councils.
It is the largest set of local elections in England for three years and a key test for all political parties.
To help voters make their decision at the ballot box, The Independent has a handy quiz to help voters work out which parties’ positions best align with their views.
Elections for local councillors and mayors can reflect voters’ attitudes about community issues, such as housing, local services, public transport and schools.
But they can also be an indicator on how voters feel parties and leaders are handling national issues, which this year could mean the cost of living, the economy and immigration, or even foreign affairs such conflict in Iran and Ukraine.
Labour is expected to see heavy losses at the polls, with the prime minister expected to face a leadership challenge if results are particularly poor.
Since May 2025, the party has seen its share of the vote in local by-elections fall by an average of 25 per cent – which, if reproduced at this year’s local elections, could see the party lose around 2,000 seats.
Reform continues to lead in the polls, YouGov figures show, at 24 per cent on 7 April compared to Labour’s 16 per cent and the Conservative’s 19 per cent.
Leader Nigel Farage, alongside the Lib Dems’ Sir Ed Davey and the Greens’ Zack Polanski, will all be aiming make gains at the expense of the major parties at the ballot box.
Key information for voters
Polls close at 10pm on 7 May, but only around a third of councils are due to count and declare results overnight.
Most councils will wait until the following day, Friday 8 May, to begin counting votes and are likely to start announcing their full results in the early afternoon.
A very small number of councils have indicated they will not finish counting votes until Saturday May 9.
The deadline to register to vote is 11.59pm on Monday April 20, while the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday April 21.
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