" UK ELECTIONS TODAY "

Don't forget to vote. I'm Labour, but whatever party you support or believe in, always important to vote and make your voice heard

Welsh Assembly amongst the elections


Voters are heading to the polls in a series of elections across the UK on what has been dubbed "Super Thursday".

Elections are taking place for the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly of Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly and for 124 councils in England.

New mayors will be elected in London, Bristol, Liverpool and Salford, with UK parliamentary by-elections held in Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside.

Police and crime commissioners are also being elected in England and Wales.

Problems were reported in Barnet, North London, where the council apologised after some people were unable to vote on Thursday morning.

The Electoral Commission said some polling stations did not have the correct lists of people's names - and voters were urged to return later with their polling cards.

Polling stations across the length and breadth of the country opened at 07:00 BST, with voting allowed until 22:00 BST.

Thursday's polls are the single largest test of political opinion before the next general election, which is scheduled for 2020.

Elections to the Holyrood Parliament in Edinburgh and the devolved assemblies in Cardiff and Belfast last took place in 2011.

The SNP has been in power in Scotland since 2007, while Labour has run the Welsh government since 1999.

There is a power-sharing arrangement in place in the Northern Ireland Executive. The DUP and Sinn Fein have been the two largest parties at Stormont since 2011.

In total, 2,747 seats in English councils - spanning metropolitan boroughs, unitary authorities and district councils - are up for grabs. The majority of the seats were last contested in 2012.

In London, the Greater London Assembly will be elected, as will a successor to the capital's mayor Boris Johnson, who has run City Hall since 2008. Mayoral contests will also be held in Bristol, Liverpool and Salford.

New MPs for the constituencies of Ogmore, in Bridgend County, and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough will also be chosen.

The Ogmore by-election was triggered by former Labour MP Huw Irranca-Davies's decision to stand for the Welsh Assembly.

The Sheffield contest was caused by the death of sitting Labour MP Harry Harpham.

Voters in 40 police force areas in England and Wales, excluding London and Greater Manchester, will also elect a police and crime commissioner. The inaugural elections for the positions were held in 2012.

Counting will take place throughout Friday with the majority of results declared on the day.

However, some English council results will not be announced until Saturday while the final result of the Northern Irish election is not expected until Sunday.

ELECTION COVERAGE

BBC

- Follow all the latest updates on the BBC's live page - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-36050790
- Watch Election 2016 on BBC One, hosted by Huw Edwards, from 23:45 BST on Thursday
- Listen to Radio 4 and Radio 5Live's coverage from 00:30 BST on Friday, presented by James Naughtie and Anna Foster

Sky News

"Decision Time" starts at 10pm on Thursday night, on Sky News

Labour

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a friend of mine is standing in pontypridd so voted for him, not sure where i would have gone otherwise

a friend of mine is standing in pontypridd so voted for him, not sure where i would have gone otherwise

Loads of Ponty guys and gals on here, Paul. Who you backing and what do they bring to the table?

Labour

To be honest with you, I don't get involved in attacking other people for what party they support.

It's what an individual believes in and I respect people's opinion - would be boring if we all supported the same party. Some people prefer to criticise what others believe in, but there you are.

a friend of mine is standing in pontypridd so voted for him, not sure where i would have gone otherwise

Loads of Ponty guys and gals on here, Paul. Who you backing and what do they bring to the table?

Joel James (tory) - hes been a local councillor for years round our way and done a great job in fairness, though i would say that i suppose

:lol:

a friend of mine is standing in pontypridd so voted for him, not sure where i would have gone otherwise

Loads of Ponty guys and gals on here, Paul. Who you backing and what do they bring to the table?

Joel James (tory) - hes been a local councillor for years round our way and done a great job in fairness, though i would say that i suppose

We can only speak as we find, Paul

Six hours left to vote

LABOUR RACIST END OFF

UKIP for me but these things are rigged to suit who the rich fat cats are in with so I doubt the votes will count

a friend of mine is standing in pontypridd so voted for him, not sure where i would have gone otherwise

Loads of Ponty guys and gals on here, Paul. Who you backing and what do they bring to the table?

Joel James (tory) - hes been a local councillor for years round our way and done a great job in fairness, though i would say that i suppose

I know Joel quite well from Llantwit Fardre, I didn't back him but wish him all the best!

LABOUR RACIST END OFF

That's a lie Annis and you know it. If you don't agree with the party then fair enough, but ridiculous to label any party racist - I can't stand UKIP but I wouldn't even label them racist as a party.

ONE HOUR LEFT TO VOTE

If you haven't voted already, then make your voice heard now - whatever party you support

LABOUR RACIST END OFF

Racist against white British working class people 50 members already suspended this week for being jew haters

Vote closed and now the counting begins. Some results won't reach us until Sunday.

I'll be watching BBC One from 11.45pm as it all unfolds with Huw Edwards their main presenter tonight

Some results will reach us around 3am onwards, including some of the results of the Welsh Assembly.

My gut feeling is Plaid are going to do well, and I think UKIP will have a look in also.

My gut feeling is Plaid are going to do well, and I think UKIP will have a look in also.

Projected 8 seats now also 3 way fight in Caerphilly

My gut feeling is Plaid are going to do well, and I think UKIP will have a look in also.

Plaid looking to be in a good place after tonight and Farage's UKIP will be pleased with their results too!

Lib Dems may as well pack up and go home (massive fall out from them selling themselves to Cameron in the last Government at Westminster) and the biggest losers appear to be Labour; the so-called 'Party of Wales' who talk the talk but don't walk the walk on so many fundamental local (to Wales) issues

For the record, I did vote and my comments above are no indication of how I voted; although I will say my vote(s) went to these who I believe can help me and my community locally rather than nationally

Leanne Wood wins in Rhondda, beating Leighton Andrews by nearly 4,000 votes.

Biggest story so far in Wales. Latest seats in the Welsh Assembly at time of writing:

Labour - 18
Plaid Cymru - 5
Conservative - 3
Liberal Democrats - 1
UKIP - 0

Labour's candidate Joe Anderson has been re-elected as Mayor of Liverpool - the first Mayor to be voted in tonight.

Labour struggling on the whole though.

Conservatives picking up a few seats in Scotland and look set to beat Labour to second place.

SNP still dominating in Scotland, but a few seats they've lost that they would have been expected to win.

LABOUR RACIST END OFF

Racist against white British working class people 50 members already suspended this week for being jew haters

Exactly Wez.