The key London battle grounds in today’s local elections

Theresa May is facing another huge test of her leadership today as English voters head to the polls.

Conservatives are widely expected to suffer losses as the electorate makes clear its unhappiness with May's handling of her own government, as well as Brexit, plus the natural fallout of having been the ruling party for the last eight years.

However recent events, such as the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal, have seen a late resurgence in her popularity, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been hammered over his weak responses to the Salisbury attack, the chemical attack in Syrian town Douma and control of anti-Semitism within his party.

The polls opened at 7am this morning and will close at 10pm, with the results starting to come in tomorrow morning.

Outside of London, the collapse of Ukips popularity suggests both Labour and the Tories will increase their support compared with 2014. However, Remain-backing London presents a particular challenge for both parties.

Momentum and other grassroots Labour campaigners have been pushing their #Unseat message in a number of key battlegrounds. Here's where to watch to see if they've been successful:

Westminster

The seat of parliament has never had a Labour-controlled council, but that hasn't put campaigners off their efforts to seize this hugely totemic council. Residents frustrated by May's lacklustre government, and particularly her government's managing of the Brexit process, have been a focus, while the Grenfell Tower tragedy casts a long enough shadow to sway some voters.

Labour may well win some of the seats, but the Tories control the council with 45 of the 60 seats, meaning any victory is likely to be superficial, albeit a sign of how disgruntled voters are.

Kensington & Chelsea

Another historically Tory council, this is one of the "crown jewels" that has been targeted by Labour and several small parties in the hope of ousting incumbents following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

It may be London's smallest borough but after locals elected Labour MP Emma Dent Coad at last year's General Election, Corbyn has made no secret of his desire to pick up seats here, making it one of the key areas to watch.

Even Conservative MPs have admitted they are nervous about the result.

Wandsworth

The biggest fight is taking place in long-time Tory borough of Wandsworth, south London. It was Margaret Thatcher's favourite council and has the lowest tax rate of any council in the country – fact which Theresa May made much of during yesterday's PMQs.

But there is change in the air: the housing crisis, Brexit and a shift in demographics towards a younger, more left-leaning voter, makes Wandsworth one of the most likely boroughs to turn red. It will be seen as a major victory if Labour win here – and could provide one of the Prime Minister's bigger headaches.

Barnet

This north London borough would require less of a swing to grant Corbyn victory, with the Tories holding 31 of the 63 seats, compared with Labour's 30. But it is home to a large Jewish community, where Labour has lost support in recent weeks amid ongoing claims of unchallenged anti-Semitism within the party.

Hillingdon

Labour campaigners wanting to inflict serious reputational damage on the Tories have also zeroed in on Hillingdon – where foreign secretary Boris Johnson's Uxbridge seat resides. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell is also a local MP, making it a fairly high profile affair.

Last time the Tories won 42 seats, leaving 23 to Labour but with the Liberal Democrat and Ukip votes having collapsed in recent years, there should be more than a few seats up for grabs. The Conservatives are hoping they will scoop up the majority, but there are signs that Labour could be on course to gain ground and possibly even take a majority of the boroughs seats.

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CityAM

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