Local Elections in the U.K. – A Test for Boris Johnson
On May 3, more than 4,000 local and regional elections will be held in the United Kingdom, where voters will cast ballots in mayoral races and on local councils across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Boris Johnson, the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, will see his popularity put to the test as voters decide whether they want him to be their next prime minister or not. A former mayor of London himself, Johnson’s tenure is still marred by criticism over his handling of numerous scandals throughout his career in government.
What are the local elections?
Local elections are taking place today, Thursday 2 May. They will be held to select councillors who will sit on local councils and oversee spending decisions on local issues such as transport, waste management, housing and care services in their local areas. The day is also seen as a chance to gauge public support for major parties ahead of next year’s General Election (GE) which will be held on Thursday 8 June 2020.
Who will be voting and why?
While most of Europe has long since moved on from last year’s Brexit vote, British voters are still not sure what they want. And while they may think they’re done with Brexit, political leaders now have to contend with local elections coming up on May 3rd—and those results will be closely monitored by a country that is still deeply divided over its choice to leave.
Why is this such a big deal?
Political attention will be focused on key local elections in May, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party are seeking to retain control of critical council chambers ahead of a general election next year. The vote is also likely to provide some insight into voter sentiment just two months before Brexit, which could bring about yet another major shift in British politics at one of its most tumultuous junctures.
What does it mean for Theresa May?
Following a dismal general election campaign, British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives are expected to take a hit at May’s local elections on Thursday. Her lack of control over her party, as well as widespread mistrust of her policies and leadership have some warning that she might not be able to sustain herself until Brexit talks begin, while others feel she is handling things very cautiously and won’t step down yet.
Is this an actual snap election?
In late April, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced she would be calling a snap election to take place on June 8th. An early election, as it’s being called, is not unusual; snap elections were last held in 1997 and 2010. But that doesn’t mean it’s a risk-free decision—former prime minister Gordon Brown lost his seat after calling an early election of his own.