People across England and Northern Ireland are heading to the polls to vote in local elections. More than eight thousand seats are up for grabs – with voters deciding on who runs local services such as transport, housing and school funding. This is the first time the British public will be voting since the government failed to meet its deadline for leaving the European Union, otherwise known as Brexit. CGTN's Jamie Owen looks at what's at stake.

Even in the age of social media campaigning, the politicians are out on the streets pressing the flesh, and hoping a last-minute word might make a difference on the doorstep.

Local elections can be rather a pedestrian business focusing on issues – like rubbish collection and fixing the pot-holes in the road.

But expect the great British public to use this opportunity to say what they think about their political parties' handling of a much bigger national issue – Brexit. Usually turnout in local elections is low. But this time could be different because of Brexit.

With reports of slammed doors and even punches thrown at candidates, politicians are bracing themselves for a kicking from disappointed and disaffected voters on all sides.

Senior MP Sir Alan Duncan from the ruling Conservative party thinks both the government and opposition parties might struggle:

ALAN DUNCAN BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY POLITICIAN "I think in the local elections, I think we will be okay. I don't think that the rumours of doom and gloom will turn out in the way that people say because I mean frankly, the Labour Party is not very popular either. It's not as if there's an opposition party which is racing ahead of us."

Even experienced political analysts say this is a difficult election to predict.

HELEN THOMAS FINANCIAL ANALYST "The interpretation of the result will depend on what you want your argument to be. If you want to bash Theresa May as a Conservative and say 'she's terrible', then you'll be banging that drum. But equally, if you're a very frustrated Labour voter and you maybe have a strong view about remaining in the EU, then any losses for Labour you'll be banging that drum. I think there will be a lot of noise but not a lot of clarity."

JAMIE OWEN LONDON "On the face of it, these elections have got nothing to do with London – there are no local elections being fought here. And there are no local elections being fought in some other major cities either."

Look out for turnout, if the numbers are low,  what will that say about the state of the UK's democracy after that Brexit referendum?

Some voters will tell you - what's the point of voting in yet another poll? We voted for Brexit and nothing's changed.

So you might think that the UK's opposition party might benefit from disaffected Brexit supporters. But it's not that clear cut.

The fracturing of support for both of the UK's main political parties - the establishment of new political parties means that Britain's local elections will be anything but local or straightforward.

Jamie Owen, CGTN, LONDON.