It’s election day with a difference as polling stations operate under coronavirus restrictions across Great Britain.
On what has been dubbed Super Thursday, polling stations opened at 7am in the largest test of political opinion outside a general election, with the future of the Labour Party and the state of the Union among the issues at play.
But there were still many familiar sights, with party leaders posing for pictures after they voted and plenty of #dogsatpollingstations photos to brighten up social media.
Signs warned voters to wear masks – and that selfies were not permitted (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Voters were urged to use hand sanitiser – and to take their own pen or pencil to mark the ballot (Andrew Matthews/PA)
It’s election day with a difference as polling stations operate under coronavirus restrictions across Great Britain.
On what has been dubbed Super Thursday, polling stations opened at 7am in the largest test of political opinion outside a general election, with the future of the Labour Party and the state of the Union among the issues at play.
But there were still many familiar sights, with party leaders posing for pictures after they voted and plenty of #dogsatpollingstations photos to brighten up social media.
Signs warned voters to wear masks – and that selfies were not permitted (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Voters were urged to use hand sanitiser – and to take their own pen or pencil to mark the ballot (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“Wales has the lowest coronavirus rates in the UK, and the highest rate of vaccinations. “People need to feel confident [about opening hospitality and tourism], not anxious, but it’s important not to risk what we’ve worked so hard to achieve. “We will continue to be careful and cautious and in line with the best advice. “We have a fantastic year ahead. If ever there was a year to stay in Wales and enjoy it – this would be it. “But it’s important to think of the future of the sector too. Government should invest in [hospitality] skills, but the sector also has the job of making it look attractive.”
BBC News
By BBC Radio 5 live
Naga Munchetty programme
image captionYoung people aged 16 and 17 will have the right to vote for the first time in the Welsh Parliament election in May
Teenagers aged 16 and 17 in Wales have, for the first time, the right to vote in the Welsh parliamentary election.
About 70,000 16 and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote but just days before the registration deadline fewer than 9,000 in six counties had signed up to do so, figures gathered by the Election Reform Society (ERS) suggested.
But for the politcally engaged, Thursday 6 May cannot come soon enough.
BBC Radio 5 Live has been speaking to some of those first-timers to find out what issues matter most to them - and how it feels to make history.
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Row over Boris Johnson s Downing Street renovations rumbles on, reports ITV News Political Correpondent Carl Dinnen
Boris Johnson has warned the UK is not out of the woods in its battle with coronavirus, with variants of concern still threatening to derail the roadmap out of lockdown.
The prime minister told his Cabinet that the data on coronavirus infections and deaths continues to look good , but admitted there will still be challenges .
Mr Johnson is keen to contain the spread of any new Covid-19 variants before England takes its next step out of lockdown on May 17, which it is hoped will see the restart of international travel and most social restrictions lifted.