Cape Times

Local, regional elections a test for future of UK and Johnson

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Local and regional elections were being held across the UK yesterday that could prove historic in Northern Ireland and heap further pressure on embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The contest for the devolved assembly in Belfast could see a proIrish nationalis­t party win for the first time in the troubled history of the British province.

The results, expected from today, could have huge constituti­onal implicatio­ns for the four-nation UK’s future, with predicted victors Sinn Fein committed to a vote on reunificat­ion with Ireland.

Voters are electing councils in Scotland, Wales and much of England, with Johnson facing a potentiall­y pivotal mid-term popularity test.

Poor results could reignite simmering discontent within his ruling Conservati­ves about his leadership, after a string of recent scandals.

Johnson, 57, won a landslide 2019 general election victory by vowing to take the UK out of the EU, and reverse rampant regional inequality.

Despite making good on his Brexit pledge, the pandemic largely stalled his domestic plans.

But his position has been put in jeopardy because of anger at lockdown-breaking parties at his Downing Street office and the steeply rising cost of living.

The polls, which close at 2100 GMT, should also point to whether Labour poses a serious threat, as it tries to make inroads across England despite defending the many gains it made at the last local elections in 2018.

Labour is bidding to leapfrog the Conservati­ves into second place in Scotland, behind the pro-independen­ce Scottish National Party (SNP), and remain the largest party in Wales, where 16 and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote for the first time.

The contest for Northern Ireland’s power-sharing assembly is set to capture attention, after numerous polls put Sinn Fein ahead.

A University of Liverpool poll reported Tuesday it remained on target to win comfortabl­y with over a quarter of the vote.

The pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party and cross-community Alliance Party were tied for second.

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