Make your voice heard

They may not get as much media attention as general elections, but in local elections, just as much is at stake. Today (May 4) a series of local elections are being held across the UK, including all 27 county councils in England, and all councils in both Wales and Scotland.

Seven unitary authorities also have all seats up for election, including Cornwall, Durham, Isle of Wight, Isle of Scilly, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire.

For the first time ever, six regions in England will hold elections today for newly created combined authority mayors. These new mayoral positions were set up as part of devolution deals giving the combined authorities more funding and power.

The regions holding these mayoral elections include Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Midlands.

In total, 4,851 seats are up for grabs in today’s elections. To find out information about local elections in your area, input your postcode here. Remember that polls close today at 10pm.

Unite political director Anneliese Midgley said that today’s local elections are absolutely critical.

“Working people across the UK are now being governed by one of the most reactionary Conservative governments in modern history,” she explained.

“We’re not only facing the implementation of the draconian Trade Union Bill and the destruction of our public services under continued austerity, but we’re also staring across the precipice of a hard Brexit that will threaten to decimate jobs and workers’ rights.

“Supporting Labour in local elections will be the start of a domino effect that can pave the way to undoing the Tories’ worst excesses. We urge all Unite members to go out and make sure that their voices are heard today.”