𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Kemi Badenoch has urged people to vote Conservative at today’s local elections to guarantee a council that “delivers better services and lower taxes”. The rallying cry comes as millions of people head to the polls for a bumper set of elections across England, Scotland and Wales.

The Conservatives are predicted to have a tough election, as the councils up for grabs were last facing the ballot box in the middle of the so-called ‘Boris bounce’, a period when the Tories were polling extremely well in 2022. But Mrs Badenoch said that the Conservative Party has “changed” under her leadership as she issued her message on the final day of campaigning. Mrs Badenoch, 46, said that she wanted to end the “chaos […] that Labour, Reform and the rest have to offer.”

She added: “Under my leadership, the Conservative Party has changed. We know where we went wrong, and we’re fixing it. The next Conservative Government will deliver cheaper energy bills, take back our streets with 10,000 more police officers, cut business rates for the high street, end the war on motorists, and abolish Stamp Duty on the family home.

“We are the only party with the plan, the team and the backbone to deliver a stronger economy and stronger country.”

Sir Keir Starmer, taking to social media, said that other parties were not delivering for local communities. He wrote: “Back a better future for your local community.”

But Mrs Badenoch urged voters to support the Conservatives as the elections are “on a knife-edge”, adding that “every vote counts, and yours could make a difference”.

She added: “Vote Conservative today and back us to get Britain working again.” Polling tax across the country today, and you can check if there are elections in your area here. Polling stations are open from 07:00 to 22:00, and you will need a photographic ID to vote.