What are the tests for the parties in the elections on 6 May?

All parties will probably claim success in the patchwork of polls across Britain, writes John Rentoul

Mike Hill is standing down as MP for Hartlepool, adding to the number of elections expected this year (Garry Clarkson/Alamy)

There are so many elections being held on 6 May – some of them last contested in 2016, others in 2017, and a by-election in Hartlepool last fought in 2019 – that all of the parties will probably be able to boast of some success somewhere.

First, bear in mind that we won’t know the results of any of the elections until late on Friday 7 May, and in many cases not until the weekend or the start of the following week. Because of coronavirus restrictions, returning officers are not planning to count votes overnight.

When we do get the results, they will be harder than usual to interpret. Many of the elections were postponed from last year. These are: Scottish and Welsh parliaments; London mayor and assembly; mayors of Bristol, Liverpool and Salford; many local councils in England; and police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales.