Today, across a large part of England, voters are heading to the polls in a crunch set of local and mayoral elections. This will be the first big test of the public mood since Keir Starmer and the Labour Party came to power, last July.

So, it’s a big moment.

The results of these local elections to 24 of England’s 317 councils, six mayoral authorities, and an absolutely critical parliamentary by-election in the northern, Labour-held seat of Runcorn and Helsby, will tell us a great deal about what people are thinking and feeling, the direction of politics and indeed the future of the country.

Matt Goodwin

At Runcorn and Helsby Catherine Blaiklock is standing for The English Democrats.

Reform are better than Kiev Warmonger or the STories

But Reform are already afflicted by Farage sabotage.

We need The Teds.

Catherine Blaiklock on Farage's series of political failures. Is he controlled? - England Calling