UK Election day 2022: Polls open as Boris Johnson’s Tories more likely to face main losses

The Animal Welfare Get together is fielding candidates in two constituencies right this moment.

Boris Johnson is poised to drag again from an imminent confrontation with the EU over the post-Brexit Northern Eire Protocol.

The federal government reportedly threatened a brand new legislation in subsequent week’s Queen’s speech to override components of the association, writes Ashley Cowburn:

From the Prime Minister placing his foot in it over pensioners to unlucky images on social media, there have been some memorable gaffes on the marketing campaign path. Thomas Kingsley seems at them:

A authorized physique warned of “real-life penalties” from the federal government’s repeated focusing on of the authorized occupation.

Chatting with journalists on Wednesday, the prime minister mentioned that “liberal-left legal professionals will attempt to make this [Rwanda deal] troublesome”.

Scotland’s celebration leaders have joined voters in going to the polls.

SNP chief and First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and her Labour rival, Anas Sarwar, have been at polling stations in Glasgow.

Ms Sturgeon visited her native polling station within the Baillieston space of Glasgow, accompanied by her husband, SNP chief govt, Peter Murrell.

She met SNP candidates, Alex Kerr and Lauren Martin, on Thursday, having already voted by publish.

Earlier, Mr Sarwar voted on the polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Corridor in Glasgow.

Mr Sarwar, who was accompanied by his spouse Furheen Sarwar, handed in a postal vote he had accomplished.

Scottish Inexperienced co-leader, Patrick Harvie, additionally voted in Glasgow, and fellow Inexperienced co-leader, Lorna Slater, solid her vote in Edinburgh, with Scottish Liberal Democrat chief Alex Cole-Hamilton additionally voting within the capital.

It is senseless for working class individuals to repeatedly vote for a celebration that doesn’t serve their finest pursuits, writes Emma Clarke.

“Each time I return to Gosport, the seaside city the place I grew up, it’s like watching a kind of time-lapse movies of a bowl of fruit decaying; the once-delicious providing regularly turning into much less and fewer interesting, because it transitions right into a festering heap that nobody needs to scrub up.

As I wander by the excessive avenue, I recall the little bookstore that’s now dwelling to a solicitors agency, or afternoons spent with my mum within the now-defunct museum. Once I go previous the hollowed-out shells of Dorothy Perkins, Clarks and Burtons, I begin guessing how lengthy will probably be till a vaping lounge (sure, they’re actually a factor), card store or key-cutters pops up of their place, solely to close down once more a number of months later.

A visit to the seashore was the spotlight of my journey dwelling, however now all I see is the crumbling sea wall, bald patches between pebbles, and the drained promenade that has not been repaved since I used to be a child.”

“I cannot be going again into an govt that’s required to implement a protocol that harms Northern Eire on daily basis” – DUP chief Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on his name for UK Authorities motion on the Northern Eire Protocol.

“I don’t suppose individuals awakened this morning eager about that. I believe individuals awakened this morning eager about the cost-of-living disaster. I believe individuals awakened this morning across the stress they really feel proper now” – Sinn Fein vice chairman Michelle O’Neill responding to results of a ballot on assist for Irish unity.

“What the DUP are literally doing is whipping up worry. They’re whipping up hysteria. They’re saying it’s a must to vote for us or they’ll name for a border ballot. It’s a lie” – UUP chief Doug Beattie on DUP election ways.

Learn extra of the highlights from Northern Eire’s election marketing campaign right here:

The federal government has shelved plans to herald laws that will guarantee restaurant and different hospitality staff get to maintain the ideas they’re given, coverage correspondent Jon Stone writes.

The invoice, which was endorsed by the federal government as not too long ago as September, won’t be included within the Queen’s Speech, in accordance with insiders cited by the Monetary Instances.

In September enterprise minister Paul Scully mentioned it will change into “unlawful” to withhold suggestions and a brand new legislation would “guarantee suggestions will go to those that labored for it”.

He mentioned the laws was crucial due to the transfer in the direction of tipping on playing cards noticed employers exert extra management over suggestions that have been taken.

Deputy First Minister of Northern Eire and Irish republican Sinn Fein celebration candidate Michelle O’Neill arrives, on the polling station set in St Patricks main faculty, in Clonoe, in Co Tyrone.

Practically 100 council seats on this week’s native elections have already been stuffed, depriving tens of 1000’s of voters of the prospect to have their say on polling day, writes Ian Jones.

A complete of 91 seats up for grabs on Might 5 have been classed as uncontested, which means just one candidate put themselves ahead.

Within the absence of any opposition, the 91 individuals can be elected robotically – leaving voters in these areas with no alternative to specific a selection on the poll field.