Summary of the day …
The Conservatives are facing some of their worst local election results in 40 years, with striking Labour gains across England and Wales in key battlegrounds they need to secure victory at the general election. The spread of the Conservative losses led one former minister to claim there was “no such thing really as a safe Tory seat any more”. Elections expert John Curtice put the Conservatives’ share of the vote at just 25%, matching the nadir hit in local elections in 1995 by the Conservative prime minister John Major, soon to be swept out of power by Tony Blair
Labour was celebrating a string of election successes, but Beneath the euphoria of wins in places such as Blackpool, Hartlepool and Thurrock, however, lay a nervousness about the party’s performance in urban areas, with campaigners warning it had lost ground in both London and Birmingham. Sources said much of the loss of urban support was being driven by anger among Muslim and progressive voters about Keir Starmer’s stance on Israel’s assault on Gaza following the 7 October attacks
The Conservatives held on to their high-profile Tees Valley mayoralty with a reduced majority for Ben Houchen in the mayoral elections, but Labour won three other contests, in the East Midlands, North East and Rishi Sunak’s own patch of North Yorkshire
Keir Starmer said Labour’s victory in the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election was “a very, very special moment”. He told voters “Thank you for putting your trust in Labour, we will not let you down.”
Liberal Democrat leader said their general election campaign started today after a series of gains in the south and south-west of England
The Green party is positioned to win Bristol city council despite failing to win outright control
You can find our full result tracker here …
Updated
The Liberal Democrats have gained overall control of Tunbridge Wells as the Conservatives lost four seat, leaving them on seven and the Liberal Democrats with 22 of the 39 seats. Labour and independents have five each.
A Liberal Democrat source said, and you may have to brace yourself, “the disgusted of Tunbridge Wells have spoken.”
