UK Local Elections Begin, Pre-Election Polls Predict Major Defeat for Ruling Labour Party
UK local elections are taking place today, posing a major challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the ruling Labour Party. Pre-election polls predict a significant defeat for Labour, highlighting the rise of far-right and left-wing populist forces.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 20:32
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 21:02 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 21:31 (29 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, London 7th, comprehensive foreign report) UK local elections began today. These elections not only put greater pressure on the already struggling Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the ruling Labour Party but also highlight the rise of far-right and left-wing populist forces. Pre-election polls even predict a major defeat for the Labour Party in the elections.
According to Agence France-Presse, polling stations in Scotland, England, and Wales opened at 7 AM local time (2 PM Taiwan time). These local elections are the biggest electoral test for Keir Starmer since his overwhelming victory in the July 2024 general election, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule.
Pre-election polls predict that the Labour Party led by Starmer will suffer a major defeat, which could intensify calls for Starmer's resignation or force him to face a long-rumored leadership challenge.
The far-right Reform UK party, led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, and the left-wing Green Party, led by self-proclaimed eco-populist Zack Polanski, are seen as parties likely to benefit from widespread public discontent.
Critics point out Starmer's series of policy missteps and even his involvement in the scandal surrounding former UK Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson. Mandelson, who had a private relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was dismissed in September last year after only seven months in office.
Out of nearly 16,000 seats in English local councils, approximately 5,000 seats are expected to be re-elected; the Welsh and Scottish parliaments will undergo a complete re-election.
Voting will close at 10 PM local time tonight, with some election results expected to be announced overnight, and most results gradually released later tomorrow. (Translators: Kao Chao-fen / Reviewer: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150507
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(Central News Agency, London 7th, comprehensive foreign report) UK local elections began today. These elections not only put greater pressure on the already struggling Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the ruling Labour Party but also highlight the rise of far-right and left-wing populist forces. Pre-election polls even predict a major defeat for the Labour Party in the elections.
According to Agence France-Presse, polling stations in Scotland, England, and Wales opened at 7 AM local time (2 PM Taiwan time). These local elections are the biggest electoral test for Keir Starmer since his overwhelming victory in the July 2024 general election, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule.
Pre-election polls predict that the Labour Party led by Starmer will suffer a major defeat, which could intensify calls for Starmer's resignation or force him to face a long-rumored leadership challenge.
The far-right Reform UK party, led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, and the left-wing Green Party, led by self-proclaimed eco-populist Zack Polanski, are seen as parties likely to benefit from widespread public discontent.
Critics point out Starmer's series of policy missteps and even his involvement in the scandal surrounding former UK Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson. Mandelson, who had a private relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was dismissed in September last year after only seven months in office.
Out of nearly 16,000 seats in English local councils, approximately 5,000 seats are expected to be re-elected; the Welsh and Scottish parliaments will undergo a complete re-election.
Voting will close at 10 PM local time tonight, with some election results expected to be announced overnight, and most results gradually released later tomorrow. (Translators: Kao Chao-fen / Reviewer: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150507
Stand with the facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.