Leaders cast votes in general election

British Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha on way to cast their vote
British Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha on way to cast their vote

Party leaders have been casting their votes in the United Kingdom general election.

Polls opened at 07:00 BST at around 50,000 polling stations across the UK, which will remain open until 22:00.

A total of 650 Westminster MPs will be elected, with about 50 million people registered to vote reports BBC.

As well as the general election, there are more than 9,000 council seats being contested across 279 English local authorities.

Mayors will also be elected in Bedford, Copeland, Leicester, Mansfield, Middlesbrough and Torbay.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Labour leader Ed Miliband, Greens leader Natalie Bennett, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Conservative leader David Cameron, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood have all cast their votes.

The weather has been dry and mild across much of the UK, with isolated showers in some parts of the north of England.

The local votes taking place mean that nearly every voter in England – excluding London where there are no local elections – will be given at least two ballot papers when they enter polling stations.

Some votes had been cast before Thursday through postal voting, which accounted for 15% of the total electorate at the 2010 general election, when the overall turnout was 65%.

For the first time, people have been able to register to vote online.