Campaigning Enters Final Day Before Devolved and Local Elections Across Britain

Polling stations across Scotland, Wales, and much of England are due to open on Thursday 7 May 2026, with party leaders making their final appeals to voters in the biggest multi-nation electoral test since the UK general election two years earlier.

The Details

Voters in Scotland will choose 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) — 73 from constituencies and 56 from regional lists — according to the Scottish Parliament's official election page. Wales will hold its Senedd election on the same day, using 16 constituencies that each elect six Members of the Senedd, the Senedd has confirmed.

In England, more than 5,000 seats on 136 councils are being contested, alongside six mayoral vacancies, according to the BBC's pre-election overview. The Local Government Association also lists scheduled local government elections for 7 May 2026, including direct council elections in six local areas.

Postal voting has been under way for weeks ahead of polling day, BBC News reported. In Wales, polling stations are due to open from 07:00 to 22:00 on 7 May, according to the Senedd.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, quoted by BBC News while campaigning in south London, acknowledged the challenge ahead: "I'm not going to shy away from the fact that this is going to be challenging."

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, was described by the BBC as framing the elections as "a referendum on the prime minister's leadership."

According to BBC News, Reform UK, Plaid Cymru, and the Scottish National Party are all arguing they can emerge as the dominant anti-establishment or anti-Reform force in the devolved contests, while Labour and the Conservatives are entering the vote expecting difficult results.

Context

This is the first major electoral test across multiple UK nations since the general election held roughly two years prior. The simultaneous votes in Scotland, Wales, and large parts of England will test party strength across devolved and local government levels at a moment when Westminster parties are facing pressure on multiple fronts. The BBC reported that Labour and the Conservatives both anticipate difficult results, while smaller parties are seeking to capitalise on voter dissatisfaction.

What's Next

Polling stations open Thursday across Scotland, Wales, and parts of England. Counting is expected to begin after polls close at 22:00, with results from the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections, as well as English council and mayoral contests, to be declared in the hours and days that follow.