Polls open across England, viewed as a test of Rishi Sunak’s leadership
Voting has opened in local elections right across England.
They’re being viewed as a crucial test of progress for current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer.
In an apparent attempt to manage expectations, the prime minister warns the results will be “hard” on the Conservative Party.
Both parties will seek to build a narrative from the outcome about their chances in the next general election.
The elections cover around 8,000 seats across 230 councils in England.
The seats were last contested in 2019, when Theresa May was just weeks away from announcing her departure as prime minister.
Sunak says some Conservative councillors will lose their positions as a result of events “over the past year”.
But, the PM added: “It does feel like [the UK] is finally beginning to turn the corner on the cost of living.”
