travel issues london

Live London Underground, Elizabeth Line, Overground, DLR and Tram status updates

London travel is extremely busy, but not impossible if you plan ahead

• Add ample time to your plan for Heathrow arrival and departure.
• Establish a strategic plan to visit popular sites to avoid crowds.
• Snag discount passes, like the Visitor Oyster travel smartcard, to save money on attractions and transportation.

The international travel boon, after most countries lifted COVID-era restrictions, coupled with a favorable euro   have made London one of this season's hottest travel destinations.

As travel agents have told USA TODAY, those heading to Europe this summer should leave themselves plenty of extra time to account for lines and to avoid checking a bag if at all possible. 

Geoff Heal, professor of Economics at Columbia Business School said that while we're seeing a travel surge now – since people are desperate to get out – it will drop away later in the summer into fall. 

To navigate crowds and really explore London, here are four tips from travel experts to maximize your time in the city.

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Is summer travel causing long TSA lines at airports?  Sort of. Here's how to prepare.

1. 'Your best bet is London Heathrow'

Once you book your flight, make sure you book to Heathrow Airport.

"While London City Airport is the closest to the city’s heartthrob, you won’t find a ton of flights from the USA landing there," said Brandon Berkson, founder of Hotels Above Par. "Your best bet is London Heathrow – yes, they have been having some issues lately with overcapacity, but it’s night and day better than flying into London Gatwick, which, post-pandemic is an understaffed nightmare. When flying into Heathrow, you can get to Paddington Station in Central London in just 15 minutes via the Heathrow Express train, which, in turn, slashes a lot of time and money off your would-be taxi commute from the far-our airport in the city."

Heathrow, which says it serves 203 destinations in 84 countries, is limiting the number of daily departing passengers to 100,000 through Oct. 29 . Although the airport's operators insist that most existing bookings won't be affected, they acknowledged that some airlines probably would change flights to other days, move departures to other area airports and cancel some itineraries. 

2. Avoid crowds by planning ahead

Once you get into London, it's all about careful planning.

"Everything is packed, so the best way to reduce the time you spend waiting in long lines is to buy advance purchase tickets for attractions – such as the London Eye or Tower of London – and show up early for your time slot," explained Barbara DeLollis, co-founder and Editor of Travel Essential.

Another way to avoid the crowds? Visit the bigger attractions after hours.

"To visit London's amazing museums, your best chance to avoid the largest crowds is by visiting Friday evenings during extended opening hours when most people flock to the bars (pubs)," DeLollis added.

Airlines cut tens of thousands of flights in November: Here's why travelers shouldn't panic

If your flight is delayed,  you may be eligible for compensation from your airline

3. Get a smartcard to get around the city

To get around the city, it's best to utilize public transportation to cut costs.

"To get around the city on London's iconic Tube lines and red buses, buy a Visitor Oyster travel smartcard (like a NYC subway card)," DeLollis said. "This lets you easily swipe to get your transport, instead of paying each time – and saves you money since you're buying a pass. It's perhaps the cheapest way to pay for journeys on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers River Bus Service, most National Rail lines, and the London Overground." 

4. Head East to avoid the crowds

Berkson and DeLollis also recommend spending time in East London in areas like Shoreditch.

"Shoreditch is one of the city's coolest boroughs, with its bevy of millennial residents who want nothing to do with the cliché tourist sites with which London is most associated," Berkson explained. "The neighborhood and its neighboring areas are filled with itinerary-worthy attractions like Boxpark , a shopping spot watering hole with independent boutiques in old shipping containers;  Brick Lane , a thoroughfare with great thrift shops and authentic South Asian eateries; and Spitalfields Market , which hosts an eclectic variety of kiosks selling everything under the sun, from locally-crafted artwork to casual jewelry."

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY

London Travel News LIVE: Canning Town crash chaos causes queues past Blackwall Tunnel as road closes

LIVE – Updated at 16:49

A crash in Canning Town has created standstill traffic back past the Blackwall Tunnel.

The East India Dock Road near the Canning Town Flyover was blocked due to the collision on Wednesday afternoon.

It comes after a key route in Croydon was shut for several hours after a bus crashed into a car.

Emergency services were called shortly before 9am to a collision on Duppas Hill Lane (A232) in Croydon on Wednesday morning, with firefighters removing the roof of a car to free someone from the vehicle.

Meanwhile passengers are warned of queues at Heathrow as Border Force workers at Heathrow Airport enter the third day of a four day strike over working conditions.

For the latest travel updates from across London’s transport network scroll down.

Overground part-suspended due to trespasser on track

There is currently no service on the London Overground between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside due to a trespasser on the track at Walthamstow Queen's Road, says TfL.

Disruption between London and Heathrow expected until 7pm

Lines have reopened following a fault with the signalling system at Hayes & Harlington.

But National Rail says trains running between London Paddington and Slough / Heathrow Airport may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 7pm.

Services affected:

• Elizabeth line services between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 / Maidenhead / Reading, also between Shenfield and Heathrow Terminal 5
• Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads / Cardiff Central / Carmarthen / Cheltenham Spa / Didcot Parkway / Exeter St Davids / Great Malvern / Hereford / Newbury / Oxford / Paignton / Penzance / Plymouth / Swansea / Taunton / Weston-super-Mare / Worcester Foregate Street / Worcester Shrub Hill
• Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5

Disruption between London Paddington and Slough

Trains between London Paddington and Slough, including on the Elizabeth line, are being disrupted by a fault with the signalling system at Hayes & Harlington.

Some lines are closed which could cancel or delay services between the stations.

Disruption is expected until 4pm.

Minor delays on Central, Northern and Elizabeth Lines

There are currently minor delays on the Elizabeth, Central and Northern Lines.

There are delays on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Reading while TfL fix a signal system failure.

A shortage of trains is causing the delays between Leytonstone and Hainault via Newbury Park on the Central Line and across the whole Northern Line.

Canning Town crash causing queues past Blackwall Tunnel

A crash on East India Dock Road near the Canning Town Flyover has created long queues back past the Blackwall Tunnel.

Aspen Way is also congested back to the Limehouse Link Tunnel due to the incident.

Minor delays on Northern Line

There are currently minor delays on the Northern Line because of a shortage of trains, TfL has said.

There are also minor delays on the Central Line, but all other lines are running a good service.

Heathrow disruption now resolved

Disruption to Heathrow Express services between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 has now ended, according to National Rail.

Passengers had earlier been warned of cancelled trains due to a signalling system fault.

Heathrow Express disrupted

The Heathrow Express was disrupted at lunchtime on Wednesday following a fault with the signalling system between Paddington and the London Airport.

The service is recovering but trains may still be cancelled.

Disruption is expected until 1.30pm.

Minor delays on the Central Line

There are currently minor delays on the Central Line between Leytonstone and Hainault via Newbury Park due to train cancellations.

Three people taken to hospital after bus crash in Croydon.

The London Ambulance Service told the Standard three people were taken to hospital following a crash in Croydon.

A LAS spokesperson said: “We were called at 8:24 thismorning (May 1) to reports of a road traffic collision involving a bus and a car at the junction of Duppas Hill Road and Warrington Road, Croydon, CR0.

“We sent ambulance crews to the scene.

“We treated two patients at the scene before bringing them to hospital.

“Three patients were also assessed and discharged at the scene.

One patient also made their own way to hospital prior to our arrival.”

Road in Croydon shut after bus and car crash

The London Fire Brigade has confirmed a bus crashed into a car in Croydon on Wednesday morning.

The LFB were called shortly before 9am to a report of a road traffic collision on Duppas Hill Lane in Croydon.

A spokesperson said: "Firefighters removed the roof of the car and worked alongside ambulance crews to release a man from the car.

“Two fire engines and a fire and rescue unit from Croydon Fire Station attended the scene."

Road shut after crash in Croydon

A key route in Croydon has been closed following a crash.

Duppas Hill Lane (A232) has been closed both ways between the Croydon Flyover and Epsom Road.

Buses are on detour.

The Metropolitan Police told the Standard injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

Minor delays on the Elizabeth Line

There are minor delays between Paddington and Abbey Wood as well as to Shenfield on the Elizabeth Line due to a faulty train at Tottenham Court Road.

Trains unable to run on Metropolitan Line

There is currently no service between between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Watford on the Metropolitan Line and minor delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham / Chesham while Transport for London deal with a customer incident at Moor Park.

There are also severe delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge while TfL deal with another customer incident at Ruislip Manor.

Minor delays on Northern Line and DLR

There are currently minor delays on the Northern Line due to a shortage of trains.

There are also minor delays on the DLR between Stratford and Canary Wharf due to a faulty train at Langdon Park.

Trains to London Waterloo face 30 minute delays

Services between London Waterloo and south west London are facing 30 minute delays after a train's automatic braking system were activated between Twickenham and Strawberry Hill.South Western Railway routes through stations such as Wimbledon, Kingston and Richmond have been affected.

All lines have reopened following the incident but some services could be cancelled or delayed.

Disruption is expected through rush hour until 9.30am.

Three mile queues on the M26

There are three mile queues of traffic on the M26 due to emergency repairs on the motorway westbound before the M25.The road is down to one lane onto the M25, travel data site Inrix reports.

Severe delays on the Northern Line

There are severe delays on the Northern Line, according to Transport for London.

It reports severe delays between Camden Town and Kennington via Charing Cross due to a signal failure at Waterloo.

There are also minor delays on the rest of the line. London Buses and Southeastern are accepting tickets, TfL said.

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Travel Disruption: Heathrow flight disruptions today and advice on delays and cancellations

If you’re experiencing Heathrow delays or your flight is impacted by severe weather or industrial action, there are a few things you’ll need to know.

The main information contact number for Heathrow Airport is: 0844 335 1801 *. If you are using a textphone, please use: 0844 571 7410 *

Use our Compensation Calculator to find out what you could be entitled to in compensation from your airline.

Bear in mind, any flights delayed for less than 3 hours are unlikely to provide any compensation and you’ll have to contact your travel insurance provider or the airline separately to make a claim.

Here’s our guide to understanding your compensation results.

You’re not always guaranteed a pay-out if your flight is delayed, there’s a number of factors that can cause airlines and airports to delay your flight. Essentially, it depends on how long you’ve been delayed and why you were delayed. Whether it’s strike action, bad weather such as snow and fog, or traffic control issues, different causes mean different compensation brackets for you as the passenger.

How can I get compensation from my travel insurance provider?

All travel insurance policies are different and offer different levels of cover. It is best you contact your insurance provider or read the policy wording document on their website to find out how much compensation you are entitled to if your flights are cancelled or delayed.

The airline has a legal obligation to provide you with a flight to your destination as your ticket is a contract with them, despite any Heathrow disruptions today or tomorrow. If there are no later flights available you should ask the airline to book you a flight from another airport and pay for your transport to that airport. If this is not an option then you should consider alternative modes of transport and apply to have your ticket refunded.

There are three options if you’re trying to get around Europe without flying.

For example, if you’re eager to get away, you could hire a car and drive to your destination. Some car hire providers will let you drive your hired vehicle across Europe and drop it off in your destination country. Bear in mind, companies can sometimes charge extra for letting you take the car across country borders and charge you for crossing back again.

Other choices are public transport links. Another mode of transport would be to take the ferry if you are trying to get to Europe or, if you’re trying to get to France or Belgium, you could try and take the Eurostar. The Eurostar is a train which travels from London St Pancras train station to Paris and Brussels.

However, just because London Heathrow isn’t flying, doesn’t mean the rest of the UK isn’t. So if you’re going further afield than Europe, say you’re flying to Bali or New York, local ferries and the Eurostar won’t really help you. Therefore, if you are travelling internationally and you cannot get a flight with your airline from Heathrow airport you should try and get a flight from any airport within the UK.

If there is no alternative available, your airline should provide you with a refund for your disrupted flight within seven days.

Here are some of Heathrow’s biggest airlines with link to their customer service lines and how to access compensation for your delayed flights:

0344 493 0787

0203 540 8063

0345 601 09 56

01293 496883

Top tips when talking to the airline’s customer services provider about your flight delay:

• Where possible, call them ahead of time or check their website or social media for updates. Check your booking confirmation to double-check which airline you are flying with and give them a call for the latest update or what the next steps are. It is best to check flight details with your airline as soon as possible ; if your flight is cancelled you may be advised not to travel to the airport.
• Keep checking for up to date information about the airport by checking their Twitter or by calling your airline directly. You can also check major flight disruptions on the BBC website.
• If your airline cancels your flight the airline must give you the option of rebooking an alternative flight; either as soon as possible, or at a later date. If no flight is suitable you can request a refund.
• If the flight is cancelled due to reasons out of the airline’s control they will not pay for cancellation of your accommodation or cancellation of any other arrangements. However, if you have taken out a comprehensive travel insurance policy when you booked your holiday, any Heathrow delays should be covered and you should be able to claim back most of the expenses incurred from cancelling the holiday from your travel insurance provider. Please check with your insurers to see if they can help.
• Try to stay calm – you’re in safe hands, the airlines know what they are doing and if your flight has been delayed or cancelled it is for your own safety! There’s nothing to be achieved by getting angry at any airline representative. As they say, don’t shoot the messenger.

If you don’t get anywhere with your airline representative, here are your alternate solutions that will still help you get away:

What are my passenger rights?

If your re-booked flight leaves 2 hours after the scheduled flight your airline should provide you with free meals while you wait and accommodation if needed, as well as two free phone calls. The level of compensation will depend on the distance you are travelling and how much later you will arrive from the original flight.

Heathrow Delays – Why is my flight delayed?

To find out what the Heathrow Airport weather warnings are today, and what they mean for your flight, we recommend finding your flight details with our online Flight Departures Board . Often Heathrow will warn of destination closures, so if you’re flying to Bali where there’s a volcanic ash cloud, your flights will be cancelled. Alternatively, weather warnings will be in relation to the UK, such as Storm Doris in February 2017. Our online departures board will give you the most accurate times for your flights and any Heathrow disruptions today.

As for why your specific flight is delayed, stay up to date on your airlines’ social media, website or local news.

Likely causes for Heathrow delays are weather disruptions, technical issues or strike action; but really Heathrow Airport weather warnings could come down to a whole array of causes, both in the UK and at your destination. The weather might not be suitable for flying, see how each weather type affects flying below for snow, rain, wind and fog . Alternatively, if you’re receiving news that your flight is delayed for other reasons, it’s possible there are strikes, a technical error or in exceptional circumstances, the airline may no longer be flying.

Get compensation for 1+ hour flight delays.

Did you know that Colibra offer fair compensation for flights delayed by at least an hour, regardless of the reason? All you have to do is download their app, register before you fly and upload your boarding pass, all for free. Should your flight then be delayed by an hour or more, Colibra will compensate you within 24 hours for the inconvenience.

Why does snow disrupt flights?

One of the most common causes for Heathrow delays is when it’s snowing is that every plane must be completely de-iced before it can take off. This is because any ice on the plane affects the wings and fuselage which makes the planes more difficult to control. In severely cold temperatures, planes must take off as soon as they are de-iced to prevent the ice building up again. Therefore, this causes delays as de-icing cannot be done in advance at the start of the day.

Another major cause of Heathrow Airport weather warnings and subsequent delays is when the runways and roads are covered in precipitation or ice. Heathrow has to be cleared of any snow and ice to get as many flights out as soon as possible which is usually the airport’s responsibility, i.e. Heathrow’s disruption team.

If too much heavy snow has settled on Heathrow runways, then the airport may have to be closed while the airport is cleared of all snow. Planes cannot take off when there is any snow on the ground.

Larger airports like Heathrow and Gatwick are more impacted by severe weather than smaller airports as they have so many flights that a delay of a few hours causes a huge backlog of flights. On the other hand, they often have bigger and more efficient teams to deal with Heathrow delays and flight disruptions because they are bigger and dealing with more traffic.

The issue being if there are multiple delays at Heathrow due to weather disruptions, planes will have to wait their turn to use the runways and begin your holiday. Just because disruption teams are fast, doesn’t mean the whole process is going to be an instant fix. Often if Heathrow Airport gives a weather warning, officials may decide it’s not worth clearing all terminal runways of snow, if snow is forecast to continue falling over a long period of time.

More weather warnings: Why does wind, rain and fog disrupt flights and cause delays at Heathrow?

When it comes to flying a plane, pilots and flight crews aren’t just looking with their eyes. Pilots have systems to tell them their altitude, radar, temperature gauge and wind speeds – even being in constant contact with the Air Traffic Control team back at Heathrow to let them know exactly what’s going on in the skies.

So why does rain and fog cause so many airport weather warnings and have that much of a difference to Heathrow delays? To begin with, the flight crew themselves have to get to the airport, just the same as you and all of their passengers. This means driving through fog and coping with the various accidents on public transport and the roads en route to work.

This is when you experience turbulence and the seat belt sign will come back on mid-flight. Wind probably causes the most hassle with take off, landing or if you’re travelling in higher altitudes. There’ll be a limit to how hard the plane’s engines can work to maintain the same speed on a good day as they do when travelling against the wind or jet stream and whether it’s safe to fly at all.

Despite all the specialist equipment onboard a plane, it’s still pretty useful to see clearly with your own eyes. Flight crews will be more confident and probably more efficient when travelling on a clear day than when there are weather disruptions. While they may rely on Air Traffic Control and their plane’s systems, you’re more likely to experience fewer Heathrow disruptions and have a cleaner and fast flight on a nice day. At the end of the day, if it’s not safe to fly, you won’t be flying. Heathrow flight delays are there to keep you safe.

Why do strikes result in Heathrow delays?

Striking action can also lead to disruptions which although are usually localised to certain organisations and locations, can still affect your journey.

The key to avoiding these problems however lays simply in planning your journey effectively. Leave plenty of time to get to the airport, especially if you know there’s snow or strikes forecast or check scheduled times the night before on things like Travel and Road Report sites, National Rail and Trainline.

And if you are taking the car to Heathrow airport, drive safely and remember these tips:

• Heathrow Airport weather warnings mean the surrounding roads will be affected too: it’s not just about the airport
• Keep plenty of distance between you and the car in front in case they break suddenly or you hydroplane.
• Drive slowly to ensure they’re always completely in control of their vehicle.
• If you start to slide on ice, steer into the direction you’re going to regain control.

Stay safe out there!

Keeping yourself informed about any Heathrow disruptions and delays will play a major part in streamlining your journey. Utilise news websites, travel apps, Twitter and radio so you’re up-to-date with the latest news regarding your method of transportation which should help you avoid any problematic routes.

There can sometimes be cases where it just won’t be possible for you to make your flight, for example, weather disruptions are so severe that it is unsafe for you to travel. In such circumstances where no one is really at fault, you should check your flight’s status and speak to your airline as it’s more than likely to be affected if the weather conditions are that bad, or alternatively look to your travel insurance for compensation.

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Why Meghan Markle will only travel with Prince Harry outside of the UK

The duchess of sussex was last in london in september 2022.

The Duke of Sussex will make his first major trip to the UK since the King's coronation last year.

Prince Harry, 39, will attend a thanksgiving service to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Invictus Games at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 8 May, but it is not known whether the Duke's wife, Meghan , and their two children, Prince Archie , four, and Princess Lilibet , two, will join him in the UK.

The Duchess last visited her husband's home country in September 2022. The Sussexes attended the One Young World summit in Manchester and had been due to appear at the WellChild Awards but had to miss the event following the death of Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II .

Harry and Meghan's visit to the UK was extended in order for them to attend Her Late Majesty's state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London.

On the latest episode of HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast , The Telegraph 's Royal Editor Hannah Furness talks about why Meghan is unlikely to return to the UK anytime soon.

"There is quite a heavy narrative that Meghan and the children won't be coming back until they can resolve this security issue to their liking," she says. "But he [Harry] will certainly be coming and going."

Listen to the full episode here...

LISTEN: The reason why Meghan and her children don't want to visit the UK just yet

The Duke took legal action against the Home Office over the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.

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Harry's lawyers filed an emotional witness statement to the High Court in December, in which the Duke explained why he and Meghan felt they had to move to the US after stepping back as senior royals in 2020.

The father-of-two wrote: "It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020.

"The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.

"I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too."

It has been confirmed that Meghan will join her husband on a trip to Nigeria in May after being invited by the west African country's chief of defence staff, who met Harry in Germany last September at Invictus Games Dusseldorf.

Harry made a transatlantic dash to the UK in February following the news of King Charles's cancer diagnosis. The father and son had a 45-minute meeting at Clarence House , before the monarch departed for Sandringham.

Relations between Harry and the royal family have become strained in recent years, following explosive claims about Charles, his stepmother Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Sussexes' Oprah Winfrey interview, their Netflix docuseries and Harry's memoir, Spare.

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Politics latest: London mayor attacks reports of leaked audio from Reform meeting

Sadiq Khan has responded to reports of leaked audio from a Reform UK meeting in which Lee Anderson said ministers had supported his controversial remarks about the London mayor. Meanwhile, the Scottish government has survived a vote of no confidence ahead of an SNP leadership contest.

Wednesday 1 May 2024 18:44, UK

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• Coming up on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge at 7pm
• Scottish government survives confidence vote
• Yousaf denies he was victim of plot to oust him
• Starmer reveals he considered quitting
• First illegal migrants bound for Rwanda detained
• Khan attacks 'depressing' reports of leaked Reform meeting
• Local elections:  All you need to know about this week's votes
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler and (earlier)  Charlotte Chelsom-Pill

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

With the local election campaign well under way, Labour is still sitting comfortably ahead, with the Tories trailing behind.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

The week has kicked off with a huge political story - the resignation of Humza Yousaf - and will end with another, as voters across England and Wales turn out for the local elections.

Sky's political reporter Alexandra Rogers   has looked ahead to a potentially defining night for Rishi Sunak's premiership, when hundreds of council seats, police and crime commissioner jobs, and mayoral posts will be up for grabs.

Read her full explainer below:

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said it is "deeply depressing" that Tory party staff have allegedly "cheered on anti-Muslim hatred" after reports of leaked audio from a Reform UK meeting.

It has been alleged that Reform UK member Lee Anderson made the claim at a gathering in Kettering on Friday in a leaked recording heard by ITV News.

He allegedly said cabinet ministers were among those who gave their support after he was suspended from the Conservative Party.

One person reportedly told him: "Rishi has thrown you under the bus."

Mr Anderson was suspended from the Conservative Party after saying he believed "Islamists" had taken over control of London and Mr Khan.

He later defected to Reform UK.

Khan warns of 'fuelling hate crime'

In response, Mr Khan said: "We have a former Tory party deputy chair caught on camera being racist. 

"It is deeply depressing that he confirms his Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred was cheered on by current Tory party staff, MPs and cabinet ministers.

"It's unpatriotic to talk down modern, diverse, brilliant Britain in this way. And it has real-world consequences, fuelling hate crime and violent threats.

"The London mayoral election tomorrow will be close between Labour and the Tories. The choice is between Labour who are building a fairer, green, safer London for everyone - or the Tory candidate who wants to divide our communities and take London backwards."

A CCHQ spokesperson said: "A vote for Reform is a vote for Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, taking us right back to square one.

"Only the Conservative Party is sticking to the plan, and delivering on the people's priorities."

Bin collections, potholes, local schools and town centres: Ruth Davidson and Jess Phillips were right in our Electoral Dysfunction podcast last week when they talked about these issues being the political meat of local elections when it comes to what voters want to talk about on the doorstep.

But it's true too that this set of local elections is hugely significant as the final big ballot test we're going to get before a general election.

Some 28 million people across England and Wales have the option of casting a vote - be it for councillors, mayors, London Assembly members or police and crime commissioners - and Labour is using this polling day as a dry run for a general election, testing their arguments, focusing their spending and attention in local battlegrounds where they need to win for general election victory.

And while much of the attention in the run-up to polling day has been on whether the results will trigger a full-blown leadership crisis for the Tories, what's perhaps more relevant to you the voters is what these elections tell us about the prospect of a majority Labour government.

Read more here:

Back to our political editor Beth Rigby 's conversation with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, in which the topic of the Rwanda scheme was raised.

Beth asks about reports Labour may retain the migration flights for some time in government until they negotiate different returns agreements with the EU.

He says: "No, I don't believe in the scheme. 

"I don't think it will work. I know we have to stop the boats. I want to get going with our plan. 

"Stop the boats on day one, which requires us to stop the gangs that are running this vile trade or to work with law enforcement across the borders to make sure that people are not getting the boats in the first place.

"And that's why I've already had discussions in The Hague (including with EU law enforcement agency Europol) about how quickly we can share data intelligence to do that. 

"I'm absolutely determined to tackle this problem because the government has lost control of the borders. 

"What I'm not going to do is flog a dead horse."

 Our flagship weeknight politics show  Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  will be live on Sky News from 7pm.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Sophy will be joined by Northern Ireland Secretary  Chris Heaton-Harris  and former England cricket star  Monty Panesar , who's standing at the next election for George Galloway's Worker's Party.

And on her panel tonight will be:

• Guto Harri , former aide to Boris Johnson;
• Andrew Fisher , former head of policy for Jeremy Corbyn.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

The conversation with Sir Keir Starmer now turns to the Hartlepool by-election in 2021, which was triggered after the resignation of Labour's Mike Hill.

The Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer won with 51.9% of the vote - and a swing from Labour of almost 16%

Beth Rigby asks if the Labour leader considered resigning that day.

He said: "I did, because I didn't feel that I should be bigger than the party and if I couldn't bring about the change, perhaps there should be a change.

"But actually, in the end, I reflected on it, talked to very many people and doubled down and determined… no, it's the change in the Labour Party that we need.

"And I do feel vindicated, because we are now a changed party."

Sir Keir adds the by-election loss was a "low point" and "it really hit me because my job was to turn around the Labour Party and take us from defeat to success".

He adds: "Losing hurts, and it should hurt in politics because this isn't about me, it is about whether the Labour Party can come back into government and serve working people so yes, it was a very, very low moment. 

"It required me then to double down and turbocharge the change that we needed in the Labour Party, so in that respect, retrospectively it was a good thing because it forced that onward pace, but I am not going to pretend it wasn’t a really hard time."

Sir Keir Starmer has today reiterated that the Labour Party "need to show progress" in the local elections on Thursday, despite being around 20 points ahead in the polls.

He tells our political editor Beth Rigby : "We have to show progress, there is no doubt about that.

"We're a changed Labour Party, we have to show that people have the confidence and the trust to vote for this changed Labour Party."

The Labour leader says: "The polls don't predict the future.

"The polls don't change the country, but I'll be looking for that progress."

Beth asks what this progress would ideally be.

"We want to make gains, there's no doubt about it. We're here at Harlow, we need and want to take this council.

"The feeling if you talk to our activists - there is optimism on the ground."

He is then asked about mayoral elections, and what he believes his prospects are in the West Midlands, where Labour is up against Tory mayor Andy Street.

Sir Keir admits this will be "a fight", adding: "It's going to be very, very tight."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has today insisted the government's Rwanda scheme is a "gimmick" after it was confirmed police have raided the homes of the first people to be deported.

It comes following the recent passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act, which declared the central African nation safe following concerns raised by the Supreme Court last year.

Asked about this today, Sir Keir said: "The Rwanda scheme is a gimmick. We don’t support it and we won't be implementing it."

Starmer vows to 'take down gangs'

Sir Keir continued: "And the proof is absolutely clear. The prime minister did a victory speech on Rwanda a week ago on Monday. 

"Since then 1,300 people have arrived by small boats. The legislation got royal assent last Thursday. Since then 900 people have arrived by small boats and 230 arrived yesterday, and just one person has gone on a voluntary basis to Rwanda. 

"Nobody but nobody could think that this is going to work. 

"The real work has to be done on stopping the boats by taking down the gangs that are running the vile trade in the first place, and that's why I have already been over to The Hague to talk to law enforcement about how if we are privileged to come into power we can tackle this from day one at cause and stop people from arriving by small boats in the first place."

By Jake Levison , news reporter

The government has opened a consultation on the disability support system PIP (Personal Independence Payment), meaning eligibility criteria and other aspects of it could change.

Proposed changes come as part of the prime minister's pledge to reform the welfare system if the Conservatives win the next general election.

The criteria for getting PIP could change, as could the types of payments received by those who are eligible.

But what is PIP, who is able to get it, what is the government planning to change and who would be impacted?

Here's what you need to know.

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