Voters across the UK were heading to the polls on Thursday in the first major election since all pandemic restrictions were scrapped.
Boris Johnson was accompanied by his dog Dilyn as he cast his ballot at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster at 7.40am.
After voting he walked towards St James’ Park surrounded by staff and followed by black Range Rovers.
One member of the public, confused by the commotion, asked reporters: “Is that Simon Cowell?”
Mr Johnson smiled and wished the crowd gathered at the polling station a good morning, but was otherwise tight-lipped about an election in which the Conservatives are predicted to lose seats following the Downing Street partygate and porngate scandals, and the rising cost of living.
Sir Keir Starmer arrived at his polling station in Kentish Town, Camden at 9.30am.
The Labour leader, who is also facing questions about an alleged breach of lockdown rules at an election campaign gathering in Durham last year, held hands with his wife Victoria as he walked into the polling station.
All 1,800 council seats in London, out of more than 4,300 across England, are up for grabs, highlighting how important the capital is for the outcome of the election.
In England, a total of 146 councils are facing re-election, including in major cities such as Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.
Every council seat in Scotland and Wales will be contested, while in Northern Ireland all 90 seats on the Stormont Assembly are being contested.
There are also elections for mayors in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and Croydon.
The capital, where voters will choose councillors across 32 boroughs, is a key battleground.
The local polls have been billed as a major electoral test for the major party leaders.
Conservatives are fighting to avoid losing control of Barnet, Westminster and Wandsworth.
Labour is trying to hold bankrupt Croydon and see off a challenge from independents in Tower Hamlets, while also gaining more “red wall” northern seats.
The party is hoping to do well in Wakefield, which has a national by-election looming this summer following the resignation of Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
The Liberal Democrats are attempting to maintain control of Sutton and make gains in the “blue wall” – parts of the south-east and south-west currently dominated by the Conservatives.
Tory Party chairman Oliver Dowden appeared to emphasise local issues to voters following reports that some Conservative candidates had attempted to distance themselves from the national party during campaigning due to the controversies swirling around the Government.
In a statement, he said: “The choice couldn’t be starker - between Conservatives who keep council tax down and offer good services, or the opposition parties who waste money on political games and vanity projects.”
Sir Keir Starmer used his election rallying call to highlight the “constant drip-drip of sleaze and scandal” in Government.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said voters could use the polls to send “a message” to the Government that they “can’t ignore”.
In Northern Ireland, voters will determine the make-up of the Stormont Assembly which has devolved powers to make laws in key areas such as health, housing and education.
The outcome of the election – which is unlikely to be known until Saturday morning at the earliest - could lead to a fresh period of uncertainty in the region’s power sharing executive and have significant implications for the future of Ireland.
The Democratic Unionist Party, currently the biggest party at Stormont, fears a victory for nationalist Sinn Fein could lead to a push for a border poll on the unification of Ireland.
