"Rishi Sunak's First Major Electoral Test: Results Awaited"

The UK's local elections on May 6th will be the first big electoral test for Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party after 13 years of rule. Labour is expected to outpace the Conservatives in national opinion polls, but the line between local and national politics is blurring. The introduction of mandatory voter ID for the first time is causing concern for Labour campaigners. The Liberal Democrats are buoyant, while the Green Party and independent candidates are expected to challenge the Conservatives. Voters are citing wider national concerns, and the big question is whether Sunak can counter the decline narrative in time for the general election in 2025.