VOTING is underway in the General Election, with polling stations in the Frodsham area open until 10pm tonight.
There are seven candidates standing in the new Runcorn and Helsby constituency in which the Frodsham area is now located.
They are: Mike Amesbury (Labour) , Danny Clarke (Liberal), Chris Copeman (Green), Jade Marsden (Conservative and Unionist), Jason Moorcroft (Reform UK), Paul Murphy (Social Democratic Party) and Chris Rowe Liberal Democrats)..
Voters are reminded to take a driving licence, or some other form of identification with them to the polling station as, without one, they will not be allowed to vote.
Nationally, polls are suggested Labour can expect a gain a large majority and form the next government, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
But all the Party leaders are urging voters to take nothing for granted and to get out and vote.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today represents a “pivotal moment” for the country’s future as he claimed Labour would “wield their unchecked power” to increase taxes should they secure a “supermajority”.
Mr Sunak was joined by his wife, Akshata Murty, as they visited a polling station to vote on Thursday.
He said “morning” and waved at reporters as he entered Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton.
In his final stump speech on Wednesday evening, Mr Sunak said: “This underdog will fight to the final whistle.”
The Prime Minister called on Tory activists to continue campaigning, claiming they had “urgent work to do” to “save the UK” from a Labour government.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK “cannot afford” five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can “begin a new chapter” under his party.
He said: “Britain’s future is on the ballot.”
Sir Keir was also cheered by activists as he spoke at a community centre in Redditch, Worcestershire, as his campaigning came to a close.
He said: “That’s what we are fighting for, let’s continue that fight.
“If you want change, you have to vote for it.”
As the bookies’ favourite to be the next prime minister, Sir Keir said he was pleased with Labour’s campaign and his party was “ready for what comes next”.
Ending a campaign that was dominated by headline-catching stunts, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey drove off in a pink Cadillac convertible with his deputy Daisy Cooper after his last election campaign stop.
The Lib Dem leader gave a stump speech at Hammond’s End Farm in Harpenden to the tune of ABBA’s Take A Chance On Me.
Sir Ed said he had enjoyed the campaign, which saw him travel the entire length of the UK, cover 6,000 miles on the Lib Dem’s Yellow Hammer One bus and bungee 160 feet.
He added: “Communities are angry. The water companies have been allowed to pour their filthy sewage into our rivers, lakes and onto our beaches. This has to change. The Conservatives have got to go.”