Before Brexit, London Mayoralty Is Up for Grabs
- Losses likely for opposition Labour, but damage may be limited
- Sturgeon's SNP set to sweep Scotland; Khan favored in London
A display of U.K., Union Jack flags fly in front of The Houses of Parliament, in London, U.K., on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. U.K. lawmakers are not the only ones bracing for a tough few months before Britain's referendum on its European Union membership. A gauge of expected volatility for the pound near the highest since 2011 shows traders are expecting a rough ride too.
Photographer: Jason Alden/BloombergElections take place across the U.K. on May 5 and, for once, the pressure is less on Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron than on opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Next Thursday’s voting in England, Scotland and Wales represents the first big electoral test since Corbyn took over in September, and poor results may increase discontent among lawmakers over his attempt to lead the party down a more traditional socialist path. It may also prove a gauge of the nation’s appetite for upset before the June 23 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union.