Local polls seen as test of PM support
Voters in Britain went to the polls in local government elections yesterday where they were expected to punish Prime Minister Boris Johnson over a cost-of-living crisis and fines for breaking his own Covid-19 lockdown rules.
The elections have been as a test of support for Mr Johnson, who became the first British leader in living memory to have broken the law while in office when he was fined last month for attending a birthday gathering in his office in 2020.
A sharp rise in global energy prices that has pushed up consumers’ gas and electricity bills is now also feeding through to the cost of goods in shops, putting more pressure on household budgets.
A poor set of results will mount pressure on Mr Johnson, who has been fighting for his political survival for months, as he faces three investigations and the possibility of more police fines over his attendance at other lockdown-breaking gatherings.
“These elections are without doubt the biggest test of Boris Johnson since the 2019 general election and come after what has been a very difficult time for him and his government,” said Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics.
But some lawmakers among Mr Johnson’s governing Conservatives say that while the party may perform badly in some of its traditional supportive regions in southeast England, critics may not have the numbers to trigger a coup against the prime minister.
“I don’t think they have the numbers. It’s not wise to move until you do have the numbers,” one Conservative former minister said on condition of anonymity, referring to several unsuccessful attempts to oust Mr Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May.
Votes will decide almost 7,000 council seats across the United Kingdom, determining the makeup of 140 local government authorities, which are responsible for the day-to-day provision of public services.
The results will not directly affect Mr Johnson’s practical ability to govern because the vote does not cause seats in parliament to change hands. A poor performance, however, could embolden critics in his party.
Results are expected from the early hours of Friday GMT.