What elections are taking place tomorrow and why are they important?
Different elections are taking place across England, Scotland and Wales
Last updated 5th May 2021
There are different elections taking place across the UK tomorrow. Although it is not a General Election, voting is likely to have a huge impact on how you live your life in your local area.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What elections are taking place in England tomorrow?
Local elections are being held in many parts of England tomorrow, meaning people can vote to elect their local councillors.
In some places, elections will also take place to elect Police and Crime Commissioners who are in charge of managing policing in your area.
People in Bristol, Liverpool and Salford will vote to elect local authority mayors, while there will be combined authority mayoral elections in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Tees Valley, and the West Midlands.
People in London will vote to elect a Mayor as well as Members of the London Assembly.
The elections taking place will differ depending on the location.
What is the point in local elections?
The people we elect in local elections have a direct impact on life in our area. The councillors we vote for are in charge of local public services.
For example, local councils independently decide how much people in their area should pay in council tax. This means that, depending on who your area elects, council tax could be increased, decreased or stay the same.
Local councils are also usually in charge of things which impact your everyday life, including potholes and bus timetables.
Are the local councillors part of political parties?
Councillors can represent political parties but they can also run independently.
Due to the fact many councillors represent political parties, the results from the local elections will give us an indication of the current popularity of each political party.
What is happening in Scotland?
The elections are slightly different in Scotland. Tomorrow marks the Scottish Parliament election, meaning that Scots will vote to decide which party, or parties in the case of a coalition, forms the Scottish Government.
Scots will be able to cast two votes, one to elect a specific MSP for the constituency and one vote in a regional ballot, in which people vote for a party, rather than a specific candidate. MSPs will then be allocated depending on the number of votes each party gets.
What is happening in Wales?
Like in Scotland, Welsh people will vote to decide which party, or parties in the case of a coalition, forms the Welsh Government.
As in Scotland, each voter will receive two votes, one to elect a specific MS (Member of the Senedd) for their constituency and one for a party in a regional ballot.
Why are the Welsh and Scottish elections important?
The Governments in Wales and Scotland are responsible for matters which are devolved from the UK Government, such as health, education and housing.
This is why Scotland and Wales have been responsible for their own response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and explains why the approaches of these two countries have differed from that in England, which is controlled by Westminster.