Local elections were taking place across Britain on Thursday, with the polls seen as a key test of public opinion on the performance of Prime Minister David Cameron's two-year-old coalition government, according to dpa. As voters across England, Scotland and Wales were called upon to elect new councils in towns and cities, all eyes were on London, where Boris Johnson, the Conservative incumbent, was expected to win a second term as Mayor of London. Johnson is being challenged by Ken Livingstone, his Labour predecessor, who was mayor between 2000 and 2008. A string of opinion polls have given Johnson a clear lead of up to six points, but analysts have not ruled out a surprise. The outcome of the race in London is of imminent relevance to the Olympic Games, which will be launched in London at the end of July. A second term for Johnson will also be seen as a boost for Cameron, whose government is beset by scandals as economic recovery remains elusive.
