Polling stations opened across England today as Labour faces its first major electoral test since forming the government last year. Voters are heading to the ballot boxes for local elections and a critical by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, in what is being viewed as a significant indicator of the public’s early verdict on Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves delivered a final rallying call to voters late on Wednesday, emphasising the Government’s early achievements and urging continued support for “a plan for change”. She said: “As voters head to the polls today, there’s a clear choice between Labour with a plan for change to deliver the security working people deserve and renewal for our country, or more of the same chaos voters rejected last year with the Tories and Reform.”
The by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury following his conviction for assault, has become unexpectedly competitive. Labour won the seat handily in 2024 with over 50% of the vote, but Reform UK is hoping to pull off a shock result in what it is calling a referendum on traditional party politics.
Labour has sought to frame the elections not as a judgement on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership but rather a test of the Conservatives under their new leader, Kemi Badenoch. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “These elections are predominantly about the Tories trying to cling on to seats in the shires.”
Badenoch herself acknowledged the party faces a difficult night, pointing to the overwhelming Conservative success in the same council elections back in 2021. “The scale of our victory last time means we are defending a very high number of seats,” she admitted in a statement to supporters. However, she remained defiant, urging voters not to leave outcomes to chance: “If you want a great council, don’t just hope for it, vote for it. Vote Conservative, because Conservative councils deliver better services for lower taxes.”
Political analysts suggest the Conservatives could lose as many as 500 council seats by the end of the day, with the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK both hoping to capitalise on disillusionment with the two major parties.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey claimed his party was best placed to “restore trust in local governance”. Speaking during a visit to Surrey, he said: “Kemi Badenoch faces a reckoning at the ballot box as former Conservative voters across the home counties rally behind the Liberal Democrats. Her sneering dismissal of our record — of fixing church roofs, saving bus routes, and defending local libraries — shows why her party has lost touch with the public.”
More Read
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was bullish at a rally in Staffordshire on Wednesday evening, predicting a political “earthquake”. He told cheering supporters, “Tomorrow is the day that two-party politics in England dies for good.” Speaking to Sky News, Farage said he believed Reform could win “two or three” of the six mayoralties up for grabs, naming Hull and Lincolnshire as key battlegrounds.
Though Farage stopped short of predicting outright victory in Runcorn and Helsby, he described the party’s chances as “optimistic” and said the by-election would be a key moment in his party’s rise.
The contest is particularly sensitive for Labour, not only due to the circumstances of Mike Amesbury’s departure but also because it serves as a symbolic test of Sir Keir Starmer’s ability to maintain electoral momentum outside the national stage.
With polls open from 7am to 10pm, results are expected to begin rolling in overnight and into Friday morning. All eyes will be on whether Labour can consolidate its position, or if the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, or Reform can begin to carve new inroads ahead of the next general election.
