Local elections 2021: Polling stations open across Great Britain as votes cast for councillors, mayors and police and crime commissioners

Five thousand seats are up for election in the biggest local campaign since 1973
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Polling stations have opened across Great Britain, with council seats, mayoral offices and Police and Crime Commissioner positions up for grabs all over the country.

As well as local government elections, devolved parliamentary elections will also be taking place in Scotland and Wales on the same date.

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There is also a parliamentary by-election taking place in Hartlepool, after the sitting Labour MP, Mike Hill, resigned earlier this year.

The polling stations have now opened for voters across Great Britain. (Lindsey Parnaby /AFP/Getty)The polling stations have now opened for voters across Great Britain. (Lindsey Parnaby /AFP/Getty)
The polling stations have now opened for voters across Great Britain. (Lindsey Parnaby /AFP/Getty)

‘Super Thursday’

It’s a day that’s being dubbed “Super Thursday” due to the bumper crop of votes that will be on the ballot paper, with many elections postponed from last May because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon’s push for a second independence referendum means the stakes are high in the Holyrood contest.

In England, as well as local council and mayoral contests, the Hartlepool parliamentary by-election will indicate what progress – if any – Labour has made in regaining votes in its former northern heartlands.

Polls across Great Britain are now open for local councillor, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections.Polls across Great Britain are now open for local councillor, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections.
Polls across Great Britain are now open for local councillor, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections.
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Hartlepool was held by Labour with a majority of 3,595 in 2019.

Defeat would be a blow to Sir Keir Starmer and provide a rare by-election gain for a governing party.

Boris Johnson sought to manage expectations ahead of the elections, playing down his chances of taking Hartlepool – despite one recent poll putting the Tories 17 points clear and bookmakers making Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer clear favourite to win the seat.

With results across England expected to filter through over several days as coronavirus restrictions slow the counting process, it could be a difficult long weekend for Labour.

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YouGov local election polling published last week suggested the Tories could take over as the largest party in Bolton and Dudley, while Labour sources also fear they could lose control of both Sunderland and Durham councils for the first time in half a century.

For Labour, success is expected in the form of Sadiq Khan winning a second term in London as the city’s mayor.

Results expected from Friday

While more voters are expected to cast postal ballots, those going to polling stations are being encouraged to take their own pen or pencil and wear a face covering.

Votes in the Hartlepool by-election will be counted overnight, with a result expected in the early hours of Friday, while Holyrood votes will be counted on Friday and Saturday.

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In Wales, the make-up of the Senedd should become clear on Friday.

It could be Sunday night before all the results in England’s local contests are known, while the final results in Police and Crime Commissioner elections may not come until Monday night.

‘Changed party’

Sir Keir said it would take time to rebuild his party after the worst general election result since 1935 under Jeremy Corbyn, adding: “I never thought we would climb the mountain we have to climb in just one year.”

In his final message to voters he said: “This is a changed Labour Party. Under new leadership, we are putting working people and their communities first.

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“Your priorities will always be Labour’s priorities, with Labour councils, councillors and mayors utterly focused on delivering the secure jobs, safer streets and health services we all want to see.

“They are the first step of Labour’s plan to rebuild Britain, based on security and opportunities across the country.”

‘Very tough fight’

The Prime Minister insisted it would be a “very tough fight” to win Hartlepool, a seat that has been Labour since its creation in 1974.

The Conservatives hope to achieve a “hat trick” of successes, winning Hartlepool and retaining the mayoralties in Teesside and the West Midlands.

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Mr Johnson said: “It’s Conservative mayors who are bringing new investment and local jobs to their areas. A new freeport and green jobs are on their way to Teesside and new trams, Metro lines and station upgrades to the West Midlands.

“More has been delivered by Conservatives in four years than complacent Labour politicians have delivered in decades.”

While the results in England will determine who runs key authorities and give an indication of the state of politics ahead of the next general election due in 2024, the contest in Scotland could have a far greater impact.

The SNP is certain to emerge again as the largest party in the Scottish Parliament after the election, but it wants to win an overall majority of MSPs as it pushes for a second independence referendum – something which polls suggest remains in the balance.

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Mr Johnson has refused to countenance another referendum, setting up the potential for constitutional fireworks over the coming years if Ms Sturgeon gets the outcome she desires.

Ms Sturgeon insisted her focus would be on tackling coronavirus and rebuilding the economy.

But “when the Covid crisis has passed, we will give the people of Scotland the opportunity to decide if they want the recovery to be in the hands of the likes of Boris Johnson and the austerity-driven Tories, or to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands with independence”.

She said: “Despite the challenges of the last year, we should be optimistic about Scotland’s future – and with the right leadership I know that we have the natural resources and human talent to deliver the fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland that we all want to see.”

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In Wales, Mark Drakeford hopes to maintain Labour’s grip on the Senedd – but he may find himself forced to forge a new coalition to stay as First Minister.

That could mean talks with Plaid Cymru, whose leader Adam Price has committed to an independence referendum within five years if his party wins a majority.

Mr Drakeford is unlikely to concede a referendum as the price for a coalition deal but he has argued for “an entrenched form of devolution” which cannot be rolled back by the UK Government.

In March he said the United Kingdom in its current form “is over” and a new union should be crafted to reflect a “voluntary association of four nations”.

Additional reporting by PA.

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