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Boris Johnson Faces Election Test amid ‘Partygate’ Scandal


Thu 05 May 2022 | 10:52 PM
Omnia Ahmed

British voters went to the polls in local government elections where they are expected to punish Prime Minister Boris Johnson for breaking his own COVID-19 lockdown rules.

The elections are considered a test of support for Johnson, who became the first British leader to break the law while in office as he attended a birthday gathering in 2020 amid the strict rules of COVID-19.

"These elections are without doubt the biggest test of Boris Johnson since the 2019 general election and come after what has been a very difficult time for him and his government," said Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics.

Votes will decide almost 7,000 council seats across the UK, determining the makeup of 140 local government authorities, which are responsible for the day-to-day provision of public services.

The results will not directly affect the Prime Minister's practical ability to govern because the vote does not cause seats in parliament to change hands. However, a poor performance could embolden critics in his party to exclude him from the next general election that must be held before the end of 2024.