One election this week is shaping up to be an unprecedented five-horse with each of the main political parties having an actual chance of winning. People across the UK will go to the polls on Thursday (May 1) to vote for leaders across 24 local authorities.

In the West of England, residents from Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire will vote for the next Metro Mayor. Many experts currently believe Labour is the favourite but it's possible to make an argument that candidates from all five parties have a chance of being elected. The Metro Mayor role, which will run from 2025 until 2029, is considered the most important single elected position in the region.

As reported by Bristol Live, the contest was originally considered a four-horse race until Reform UK announced their high profile candidate in February. Arron Banks, who founded the Leave.EU campaign with curent Reform MP Richard Tice, will stand for the party on Thursday.

He came to political prominence in 2014 and was previously one of the largest donors to UKIP while his friend and associate Nigel Farage led the party. Mr Banks also founded Bristol-based insurance broker Brightside and later GoSkippy.

For those who backed Brexit and now support Reform UK, he is seen as somewhat of a returning hero. His arrival in the election saw many start taking Reform UK more seriously as a competitor in this wide-open race.

Since being nominated, Mr Banks has doubled down on comments about Bristol's Somali community. He has also shared his views on everything from transgender rights to bus gates.

However, Labour party candidate Helen Goodwin is considered the favourite for the race by experts, which might comes as a surprise given that Keir Starmer's party is plummeting elsewhere in the polls. She said: "I’m the credible candidate: I will bring investors, businesses, local leaders, and the government to the table. I have the relationships to really deliver for our communities.

"As the authentic, local voice from our part of the world, I can work with the Labour government to secure more investment. Other mayors are delivering new trains, new trams, and new jobs. We need more of that ambition here in our region. It’s time for change. It’s time for a new chapter for the West of England."

The Metro Mayor role was held by Conservative Tim Bowles between 2017 and 2021 before Labour's Dan Norris took the position until this year. However, the latter was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of rape, kidnap and child sex offences, which caused shockwaves through the region.

The upcoming Metro Mayor election is being held under a straight first-past-the-post system - so just like electing an MP. Whereas, the previous two elections have given voters a second choice.

The old system favoured the Labour candidate and saw them win significantly more second preference votes in 2017 and 2021. This year's election will also be the only one happening in the whole region unlike in 2021.

The scrapping of the old system could help Reform UK. The vote to prevent Mr Banks from winning could be split without the extra insurance of a second choice.