The United Kingdom's biggest set of elections
outside of a national vote for Parliament takes place Thursday. On a day
dubbed American-style as Super Thursday, citizens all over England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will head to the polls to elect
local and regional leaders. Here’s a look at everything you need to know
about the elections.
Candidates and Races to Watch
Voters will cast ballots
for the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh
Assembly, local councils in England, the London mayor and assembly, the
police and crime commissioner and two by-elections for the national
Parliament at Westminster Thursday.
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party is
expected to keep its majority in Parliament against four opposition
parties. The Labour and Conservative parties are vying for second to
emerge as the official opposition. Members hold five-year terms, and 129
will be elected. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon looks set to keep the post
of first minister after campaigning hard and promising to “move this country forward.” Sturgeon has stated she expects a second referendum
on Scottish independence to take place during her second term if she is
elected. The SNP's referendum for independence in 2014 fell short.
First
Minister Nicola Sturgeon campaigns at the Buchanan Street steps in
Glasgow city center on the eve of the Scottish Parliament election,
Wednesday, May 4, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Russell Cheyne
In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein and the
Democratic Unionist Party are the two major groups to watch. Voters will
select six members apiece from 18 constituencies for five-year terms in
the Legislative Assembly. In Wales, the Labour Party is hoping to keep
its majority while both Conservative and the Welsh nationalist Plaid
Cymru look to gain with 60 members selected for five-year terms. The
U.K. Independence Party, which is based in England, is hoping to pick up
its first Assembly seats in Wales.
One of the hottest contests to watch is
for London mayor, with a race pitting Conservative Zac Goldsmith against
Labourite Sadiq Khan. The race has involved derogatory comments toward
Khan, a practicing Muslim. Goldsmith has accused
Khan of giving “platforms, oxygen and even cover – over and over and
over again – to those who seek to do our police and capital harm.” Polls have Khan ahead of Goldsmith for the four-year position.
Sadiq Khan, Labour Party candidate for mayor of London, speaks to supporters at Canary Wharf, Wednesday, May 4, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Paul Hackett
Other English mayoral races to watch include Bristol, Liverpool and Salford. On the 124 local councils across England, 2,734 seats are up for grabs.
The Issues
While voter turnout is expected to be either
low or moderate, the election could serve as a verdict on how major
political parties have been governing.
The London mayoral election comes as the Labour Party has been caught
in a political storm after former London Mayor Ken Livingstone was
suspended from the party for backing a member of parliament who shared
an anti-Semitic post on social media. If Khan wins, it would be a victory
for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. If Labour does well nationally, it
will provide an additional boost for Corbyn. If Labour does not fare
well, the Conservative Party could gain an edge.
How To Stay Updated, Get Results
While vote counting will
begin Thursday evening, most results will not be known until Friday.
Results of the London mayoral election are expected Friday evening local
time. The BBC and the Guardian will provide updates throughout the day Thursday and Friday.
When this election is over, British
voters will quickly move on to the next issue. Britain votes June 23 on
whether to stay in the European Union.
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