General election – live: Polls open as millions across UK to vote today

Polling suggests the election will mark the end of 14 years of Conservative governance, with Labour flying ahead in projected voting intention. Some also predict smaller parties like the Lib Dems, Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK could pick up record seats.

The true picture will remain unclear until July 5, when the UK will wake up to a new administration. Before that, the electorate must take to their local polling stations to cast their votes (if they have not done so already via a postal vote).

To ensure everyone gets a fair and equal chance to participate in this democratic process, there are a number of rules in place which must be followed in and around polling stations.

Here’s everything you need to know about polling day:

The former Labour leader has cast his vote in Islington North where he is running against his former party.

Mr Corbyn was leader of the opposition between 2015 and 2019, has represented the London constituency since 1983.

The independent candidate lead the party during the last election, which saw Labour lose with only 202 seats.

A Survation poll commissioned for left-wing news website Novara Media just over a week before polling day showed that he is on 29 per cent, 14 points below Labour rival Praful Nargund.

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria have arrived at their constituency in Holborn, London to cast their votes.

The Labour leader has all the reasons to be smiling as the polls suggest he could bag a groundbreaking majority tonight.

He could enter the doors of Number 10 tomorrow as the new prime minister with an unprecedented 272-seat majority behind him, polls suggest.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson and his wife Lindsay cast their ballots at Elim church in Dundonald in his east Belfast constituency.

Mr Robinson greeted waiting media as he arrived.

“Fresh and well you’re looking,” he said.

Leaving the polling station, he said he was glad to have voted before giving a thumbs up to photographers.

With the polls suggesting a landslide majority for Labour, there could be not many seats left for the Tories.

If the forecast is to be believed, Jeremy Hunt could be one of many Cabinet ministers at risk of being unseated.

The chancellor, who is fighting to retain the affluent Godalming constituency, could be heading to the infamous “Portillo moment”, when the then defence secretary was unseated at the 1997 election.

The 57-year-old, appointed in 2022 to stabilise the economy when former premier Liz Truss sparked a bond market rout, has focused as much on the local in his campaign.

Hunt, a senior minister for 11 of the last 14 years, including six as health secretary, told a public meeting in Godalming that the government had “not got everything right” but it could be trusted to make the difficult decisions when needed.

A successful businessman before he was elected, Mr Hunt has held a number of top ministerial positions, including health secretary, foreign secretary and chancellor.

He was beaten in the 2019 Tory leadership contest by Boris Johnson and later turned down a position in Mr Johnson’s government.

Candidare for Chingford & Woodford Green Faiza Shaheen has taken to social media to urge people to “start a new politics”.

In her last bid to supporters, she said: “Let’s show the world what we’ve got! Our community and people-powered campaign could win today. They know it and they are scared. The Tories are finally out, let’s start a new politics.”

Boris Johnson has urged his supporters to vote against the “nightmare” of a “left wing government”.

The former prime minister’s video on X, formerly Twitter, comes after he made a surprise appearance at Rishi Sunak’s campaign rally on Tuesday.

There are many different forms of ID that will be accepted at the polling station. It must be photographic ID – meaning a bank card is not valid, for instance.

Accepted forms of ID include:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country
• A photo driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including a provisional driving licence)
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person’s Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• Freedom Pass
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Anonymous Elector’s Document