Campaigning sprint finish ahead of elections around Britain tomorrow

Counting and results continue into Saturday as councils and mayoralties report outcomes.

The article notes that results will come not just in the early hours of Friday but throughout Friday, with counting continuing into Saturday.

Polling stations will be open in Scotland and Wales tomorrow morning, with many parts of England also voting to choose more than 5,000 council seats and six mayoral vacancies.

Independent candidates contest local contests in England as part of the overall electoral mix.

The Green Party of England and Wales, under new leader Zack Polanski, seeks gains in urban England and a breakthrough in the Senedd in Wales; the Scottish Greens support independence.

Plaid Cymru aims to beat Reform UK to become the largest party in the Senedd and argues it is the only party that can defeat Reform.

In Scotland, the SNP expresses confidence in winning its fifth devolved election in a row; Reform UK is competitive in Scotland, appealing to Remain supporters.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is questioned after publicly endorsing criticism of Metropolitan Police detaining methods in the Golders Green attack, while Greens campaign for gains in England and Wales.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces questions over a 5 million pound gift from Christopher Harborne that he did not declare; he says he did not have to declare it, with decisions pending by the parliamentary standards commissioner and the Electoral Commission.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey frames the party around local issues and positions Reform UK as its main rival in places like Hull, Stockport, Surrey and Hampshire.

The prime minister argues that it was in the UK's national interest not to be directly involved in America and Israel's war on Iran.

Labour leader Keir Starmer stresses health service improvements and changes to workers' rights, while asking his party to avoid debate about his future leadership.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch travels around London by taxi today, visiting boroughs where the party feels optimistic about its prospects.

The article references last week's Golders Green attacks in north London and notes that the Metropolitan Police detaining methods drew criticism in the campaign context.