Polling stations close in Great Britain – news.ORF.at

Polling stations closed yesterday after a long election day in the United Kingdom. In Scotland and Wales, voters can vote on the future composition of their regional parliaments until 10 PM (local time; 11 PM CEST). In England, in addition to city and county councils, new mayors have also been appointed in several cities – including the capital, London.

With campaign issues and opinion polls banned in the UK while polling stations open, the issue was practically irrelevant in the media yesterday. Instead, several people have tweeted pictures of their dogs accompanying them at the polls.

Results in Scotland on Saturday only

The first results are expected this morning from the by-elections for a seat in the House of Commons in the northeastern English city of Hartlepool. The result is an important measure of sentiment for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson and opposition Labor Party leader Keir Starmer. The north of England is traditionally considered a stronghold of the Social Democrats – but at the same time there was very much support for Brexit. In the last general election, Johnson’s Conservatives stole many seats from the Labor Party. If Hartlepool falls into the hands of the Conservative Party for the first time in decades, it would be a bitter defeat for Starmer, who has set himself the goal of reversing the trend.

The British will have to wait until tomorrow for the eagerly awaited results of the Parliamentary elections in Scotland. The ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) is hoping to gain an absolute majority there in order to affirm its demand for a second independence referendum. Central government approval in London is necessary to hold a referendum. Prime Minister Johnson has so far rejected this.