Millions of voters are set to head to the polling stations this Thursday, with numerous council seats in England and the national Parliaments in Wales and Scotland up for election.

A total of 5,013 councillors are up for election in England, with voting taking place for 134 of the country’s 317 councils. This includes elections in 32 London boroughs, six county councils, and six unitary authorities, such as the newly established East Surrey and West Surrey.

In the upcoming elections, Labour will be defending 2,557 seats, the Tories 1,362, and the Liberal Democrats 684. Additionally, 410 seats are currently held by other parties, including independents.

Political analysts have forecasted significant losses for Labour in this election, despite Keir Starmer’s call for voters to prioritize progress over anger-driven politics. The Conservatives are also expected to face challenges, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party is predicted to emerge as a major winner.

Polling stations will be open from 7 am to 10 pm, and results are anticipated to be announced in the early hours of Friday. Voters are advised to bring valid photo identification when casting their votes.

While some councils will have all seats contested, others follow a rotation system for electing councillors. Seven district councils will have half of their seats up for election, with many others seeing a third of seats available for contest.

In Wales, the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament controlled by Labour, will see an increase in members from the current 60 to 96. There are 16 constituencies in Wales, each electing six members. In Scotland, the long-awaited Holyrood election will involve voters selecting 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

Ahead of the crucial poll on Thursday, Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar made headlines in February by urging Keir Starmer to step down. In a message to voters published in The Mirror, Sarwar emphasized the choice between unity and division, progress versus anger-driven politics, and the right vision for the country versus simplistic solutions.

Renowned election expert Robert Hayward recently predicted that Labour could lose approximately 1,800 seats, while the Tories might see a decrease of around 600 seats. Reform UK is expected to gain about 1,500 seats, with the Greens likely to secure around 500 victories.