？
Close
Boris Johnson ‘out of touch’ over cost of living crisis, says Keir Starmer
Top conservatives have come forward in support of Boris Johnson as projections warned a loss of “hundreds” of seats for Tories.
Appearing on Sky News, education minister Michelle Donelan said Mr Johnson was “an asset, not a liability” in elections.
Earlier, in an article for The Independent, Sir John Curtice warned that the Conservatives were on course to suffer major losses in the first big test of public opinion since the Partygate scandal hit headlines.
Meanwhile, the leader of one grassroots Tory group said that anger about the No 10 parties, topped up by fears over rising living costs, pointed to the party’s supporters staying at home on today.
It follows claims from Angela Rayner that Tory election candidates are ashamed to be linked with the prime minister, by running as “local Conservatives” and pleading with voters not to “punish” them for the Partygate scandal.
“It speaks volumes that Boris Johnson’s own Conservative candidates are ashamed to be associated with him and trying to pull the wool over voters’ eyes,” Labour’s deputy leader said.
In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein is headed for a historic win in 90-seat Assembly, with opinion polls projecting its emergence as the largest party.
Recommended Local elections 2022: When will results be announced? Local elections 2022: When do they begin and where can I vote? Boris Johnson hit by grassroots Tory revolt over Partygate as voters go to the polls Thursday’s elections are likely to put more strain on the bonds holding the UK together
Key points Johnson ‘an asset, not a liability’ Rayner: Tories ‘ashamed’ of Boris Johnson Sinn Fein headed for historic win in Northern Ireland Johnson suffers revolt from grassroots Tory over Partygate
Show latest update 1651733331 When to expect the results for local elections
Millions of voters will head to the polls across the UK in a matter of hours, with local elections being held across England, Scotland and Wales.
In England there are over 4,300 seats being contested – including all London boroughs – while all of Scotland’s 32 councils and 22 Welsh councils are up forgrabs.
They will coincide with Northern Ireland’s assembly election, with voters deciding on 90 members, representing 18 constituencies, to send to Stormont.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn looks at the estimated timings for key declarations for the local elections:
Local elections 2022: When to expect the results Results will begin trickling in from the early hours of Friday morning
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 5 May 2022 07:48
1651732630 Will Tories pay the price for Partygate?
The Conservatives will find out in the coming days whether they will be made to pay the price for the Partygate saga in Downing Street, which has seen Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak fined for breaking coronavirus laws.
Oliver Dowden, the Tory Party chairman, looked to emphasise to the electorate the local choice they are making amid reports that some candidates had attempted to distance themselves from Westminster during campaigning.
In a statement to mark polls opening, Mr Dowden said: “The elections today are about one thing: who do you want running your council?
“The choice couldn’t be starker - between Conservatives who keep council tax down and offer good services, or the opposition parties who waste money on political games and vanity projects.”
Education minister Michelle Donelan argued that Mr Johnson was “an asset, not a liability” in elections.
Ms Donelan told Sky News she could “understand” why councillor hopefuls wanted to show they are “going to be working hard on all of those things that impact daily life” rather than focusing on what is happening in Westminster.
Environment Secretary George Eustice acknowledged that “all prime ministers will always be very conscious of the mood in their parliamentary party”, in response to speculation that poor results on Thursday could lead to more letters of no confidence from Tory MPs.
Mr Johnson, during a visit to Southampton Airport on the last day before polls opened, stressed that he was “absolutely confident” he had the “right agenda for the country”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 5 May 2022 07:37
1651730298
UK is providing aid of ￡45m to Ukraine to help the most vulnerable in the war-torn country, the government has said.
The money will go to UN agencies and charities delivering vital aid and supporting survivors of sexual violence in Ukraine, where Russian invasion continues to exacerbate a massive humanitarian crisis.
“Britain has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine throughout this conflict. As one of the largest humanitarian donors we will continue to make sure those bearing the brunt of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s vile war have the lifesaving aid they need,” said foreign secretary Liz Truss.
British aid is supporting the most vulnerable in Ukraine, particularly women and children, who are facing increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation.
Liz Truss
UK provides more aid to help most vulnerable in Ukraine Liz Truss announced that ￡45 million will go to UN agencies and charities delivering lifesaving aid in Ukraine and at its borders.
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 06:58
1651729165 Am I registered to vote and what can I do if I’m not?’
Voters across the UK will head to the polls on Thursday 5 May for another round of local elections.
More than 4,000 council seats in England are being contested, 1,200 in both Scotland and Wales and all 90 seats of the Northern Ireland Assembly in contention.
Around 48.8 million people have registered to vote, according to the Office for National Statistics, with the deadline passing on 14 April in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and on 18 April in Scotland.
My colleague Joe Sommerlad lists down everything else you need to know about your voting status ahead of Election Day 2022.
Am I registered to vote in the local elections? Britons return to the ballot box across the country on Thursday 5 May
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 06:39
1651728656 Scots set to go to polls as local parties urge voters to ‘send a message’ to Westminster
Scots are set to go to polls in local elections dominated by national issues and cost-of-living crisis with parties north of the border urging voters to “send a message” to governments in Westminster.
The cost-of-living crisis, fueled by increases in energy bills, national insurance contributions and inflation, has dominated the agenda of Scotland’s parties throughout the campaign.
Scottish First Minister Sturgeon attends local election campaigning in Loanhead
(Reuters)
Polls open today at 7am and close at 10pm. While overnight counts have been a norm, Scotland’s counting will take place on Friday, with results expected by evening.
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 06:30
1651726425 Johnson ‘an asset, not a liability’
As Tory supporters anxiously watch the local elections unfolding in UK, top conservatives have come forward in support of prime minister Boris Johnson.
Appearing on Sky News, education minister Michelle Donelan said Mr Johnson was “an asset, not a liability” in elections.
She added that she could however, “understand” why councillor hopefuls want to project they “going to be working hard on all of those things that impact daily life” rather than what is happening in Westminster.
Environment Secretary George Eustice acknowledged that “all prime ministers will always be very conscious of the mood in their parliamentary party”, in response to speculation that poor results on Thursday could lead to more letters of no confidence from Tory MPs.
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 05:53
1651725702 Voters head to polling stations across UK
Voters are preparing to head to the polling booths across UK to elect their new local leaders.
The elections are also seen as a referendum on the Partygate saga in Downing Street involving prime minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak, as well as the rising cost of living in the country.
Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, Oliver Dowden arrives for a Cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London in Britain, 26 April 2022
(EPA)
Oliver Dowden, the Tory Party chairman, however, emphasised the impact of the local choices that the electorate are making. “The elections today are about one thing: who do you want running your council,” he said in a statement.
The choice couldn’t be starker - between Conservatives who keep council tax down and offer good services, or the opposition parties who waste money on political games and vanity projects.
Oliver Dowden
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 05:41
1651724679 Sinn Fein headed for historic win in Northern Ireland
Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein is likely to become the largest group in the 90-seat Northern Ireland Assembly, projected opinion polls.
That would give Sinn Fein the post of first minister in the Belfast government for the first time.
It would be a feat for a party long linked to the Irish Republican Army, a paramilitary group that used bombs and bullets to try to take Northern Ireland out of the UK rule during decades of violence.
Read more in this report:
Sinn Fein eyes historic win in Northern Ireland election The Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein may be headed for an historic victory in Northern Ireland, which has been led by British unionist parties since it was founded as a state a century ago
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 05:24
1651723981 Johnson suffers revolt from grassroots Tory over Partygate
Boris Johnson suffered a grassroots Tory revolt on the eve of crucial local elections, while being warned that he faces fresh questions about his leadership as soon as the results are in.
As millions were set to go to the polls, some party candidates took the extraordinary step of rebranding themselves “local Conservatives”, pleading with voters not to “punish” them for the Partygate scandal.
The prime minister was also subjected to an attack by two of his former councillors, who released letters urging voters to back other parties, accusing the prime minister of “spreading lies” and “taking us for fools”.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more.
Boris Johnson hit by grassroots Tory revolt over Partygate as voters go to the polls Leadership ‘conversations’ will resume as soon as the results are in on Friday, prime minister warned
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 05:13
1651723534 Brexit to blame for ‘crazy’ chicken prices, says poultry industry
Brexit pressures are largely to blame for the soaring price of chicken, the British Poultry Council (BPC) has said, rejecting Boris Johnson’s claim it is down to global energy prices.
The prime minister said soaring supermarket prices were mainly due to international fuel supply problems on Tuesday, adding: “The cost of chickens is crazy.”
But the BPC fired back at Mr Johnson on Wednesday by blaming post-Brexit trade barriers and skill shortages for the spike in production costs.
“It is not ‘mainly fuel’ that’s the problem, as PM said in his Good Morning Britain interview. It is everything. Input costs like water, labour, energy and feed are all up,” said a BPC spokesperson on Twitter.
Adam Forrest reports.
Brexit to blame for ‘crazy’ chicken prices, says poultry industry Boris Johnson claimed soaring costs down to global energy problems
Namita Singh 5 May 2022 05:05
Newer 1 / 5 Older