UK Holds Local and Parliamentary Elections

British voters will head to the polls Thursday in a set of elections that are expected to deliver sharp losses for the governing Labour Party and highlight a shift toward multiparty politics across the United Kingdom. Local elections take place in England while voters in Scotland and Wales will elect members of their respective parliaments.

m. m. across the affected areas. Polls predict significant setbacks for Labour, with gains anticipated for other parties including Reform U.K. The results could accelerate pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose popularity has fallen after a series of controversies.

The elections are viewed as marking a new era of multiparty competition that is replacing traditional two-party dominance in Britain. Local contests in England will test Labour’s standing with voters on issues such as cost of living and public services.

In Scotland, all 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament are up for election under a system that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. Voters there will cast a single ballot for a party or independent candidate rather than separate candidate and party votes as in previous elections.

Wales will elect 96 members to the Senedd using a new proportional voting system across 16 constituencies. Each constituency will return six representatives allocated roughly according to the share of votes each party receives. Counting will begin Friday.

The contests come as surveys show voters expressing varied views on Scotland’s future relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom, including questions of independence.

Separately, voters in Los Angeles are receiving ballots ahead of a June 2 election that will decide the next mayor and numerous other city offices. The race occurs as the city confronts challenges including post-wildfire rebuilding, homelessness, housing affordability and preparations for the 2028 Olympics.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads in recent polls, though a large share of voters remains undecided. Bass received the endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris. The mayor has faced criticism over the response to fires that struck the city in January 2025.

Candidates for mayor include more than a dozen names such as city councilmember Nithya Raman, community advocate Spencer Pratt and a range of others from pastors and attorneys to nonprofit executives. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two will advance to a November runoff.

The position carries a four-year term. Voters will also choose a city attorney, city controller, members of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in three districts and city councilmembers in 11 odd-numbered districts covering neighborhoods from Highland Park to San Pedro.

Angeles voters will weigh three ballot measures aimed at raising revenue for city services. Proposition CB would extend the existing cannabis business tax to unlicensed operators, projected to generate $30 million to $35 million annually for the general fund that supports infrastructure and public safety.

Administrative costs for enforcement could range from $2.2 million to $10.5 million a year depending on the level of effort required to close or bring unlicensed businesses into compliance, city officials said. Proposition TC seeks to close a loophole involving online travel agencies in the calculation of the transient occupancy tax, expected to produce about $5 million a year with no additional cost to the city or change to the current 14 percent rate.

A separate measure, Proposition TT, would raise the transient occupancy tax to 16 percent through 2028 before dropping to 15 percent. It is projected to generate $44 million annually to help cover increased demands on city services during major events including the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympics.

Eligible voters must be 18 or older, U.S. citizens and not currently serving a felony sentence. Ballots can be returned by mail, dropped at designated boxes or cast in person at vote centers.

“The actual costs will depend on the type of enforcement activities and level of effort required to close unlicensed businesses or bring them into tax and regulatory compliance.”

The UK results are expected to emerge over the coming days and will be closely watched for indications of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s longer-term prospects.