| Voters in England go to the polls |
| Local elections will be held across England today in a test of the popularity of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has stabilized Britain’s politics but whose Conservative Party trails the opposition Labour Party in opinion polls by double digits in the face of surging inflation, sluggish economic growth and labor unrest. |
| At stake are seats for around 8,000 representatives in lower tiers of government. Turnout will be far lower than at a general election, and parochial issues like planned housing developments could sway some races. Still, this may be the largest public vote between now and the next general election, which will most likely take place next year. |
| Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, will need a decent result to sustain his hopes of becoming the next prime minister. Despite moving his party close to power, he has failed to excite voters. Some the most closely watched votes will be in so-called red wall areas in northern England and the Midlands, once heartlands of the Labour Party. |
| Timing: If the Conservatives do suffer, the prime minister has one thing going for him: On Saturday, all of the British news media’s attention will shift to the pomp and pageantry of the coronation of King Charles III. |
| Voter ID: Voters will, for the first time, be asked for proof of identity. The move has unleashed a political storm in Britain, where critics claim the change could reduce turnout, discourage young people from voting and disenfranchise some minority voters. |
