Final day of campaigning begins ahead of Thursday’s local elections

Politicians and canvassers are beginning their final day of campaigning ahead of Thursday’s local elections. Voters in England and Wales will go to the polls on May 2 for local, mayoral, and police and crime commissioner elections. The polls are the final test of public opinion at the ballot box ahead of the next general election, which Rishi Sunak has said will come in the second half of 2024. Forecasts suggest the elections could see the Conservatives lose up to half of the council seats they are defending across 107 councils, having lost a third of seats last year.