Key races to watch out for at today's polls

FOCUS ON STRONGHOLDS AND MARGINAL SEATS AS PARTIES VIE FOR PLACES ON COUNTY COUNCIL

- OLIVER PRIDMORE

TIME is running out for all the major parties to campaign as Nottinghamshire County Council's election day is here.

The currently Conservative-controlled council is set to be abolished in the coming years under government plans to shake up councils across the country - meaning the election today is set to be its last.

This council has historically flipped between Labour and the Conservatives. The most recent county council election, held in 2021, saw the Conservatives strengthen their position and the county has been governed by the party since then under the leadership of Ben Bradley and, more recently, Sam Smith. Yet the years since that last election have seen significant political changes nationally and locally.

The Conservatives are now out of power, Labour are in government, and the independent group at the county council has grown to the extent that it has exactly the same number of elected members as Labour. With 34 out of 66 seats needed for any party to form a majority, below are the key races that you need to look out for when results begin pouring in tomorrow. And, don’t forget, you'll get all the minute-by-minute coverage from our website NottinghamshireLive.

The key test for Reform

Ashfield is of course the home to one of just four Reform MPs - Lee Anderson. By all accounts, Mr Anderson was crucial in persuading Nigel Farage to stand as a candidate himself at the last general election, so he clearly has some heft in the party.

Little wonder then that Reform have been gunning for Ashfield in these local elections. Farage has previously said Reform were going “all guns blazing” at the county council, but it is unquestionably Ashfield where the party has focused its efforts.