LONDON 

Polls have closed across England following a major day of voting in local and mayoral elections, as well as a high-stakes parliamentary byelection in the constituency of Runcorn and Helsby.

Initial results are expected in the early hours of Friday, marking the first full-scale electoral test for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer since the last general election.

Voters cast ballots to decide control of 24 local councils, six regional mayoralties, and a parliamentary seat vacated by Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who resigned after receiving a suspended prison sentence for assault.

The contest in Runcorn and Helsby is being closely watched, with the far-right Reform UK party tipped by bookmakers as favorites to overturn Labour’s significant majority of nearly 15,000 votes.

Labour insiders described the race as too close to call late Thursday.

The early results, due around 2 a.m. local time, will include the mayoral races in North Tyneside—expected to remain under Labour control—and the West of England, where Labour is facing a strong challenge from the Greens and Liberal Democrats in a three-way contest.

By 3 a.m., the critical Runcorn and Helsby result is expected, potentially setting the tone for the rest of the night.

Reform UK is also eyeing the new Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty, while Labour aims to retain Doncaster.

However, most of the council vote counts will begin Friday morning, with final outcomes likely to emerge gradually through the day and into the afternoon.

The overall picture remains highly unpredictable, with national polling fragmented.

Labour, the Conservatives and Reform are each polling between 20% and 25%, with the Liberal Democrats and Greens not far behind.

The results will be scrutinized not only for what they reveal about the major parties but also for their implications for rising political figures such as far-right Reform’s Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.