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As it happenedended

Local elections - as it happened: Corbyn insists Labour ‘ready for an election', despite missing top London targets

All the latest updates, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan,Ashley Cowburn
Friday 04 May 2018 12:45 EDT
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Local Elections 2018: The results so far

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Labour has urged the government to scrap controversial ID pilots, which saw some voters turned away during local elections in England.

Parties faced mixed results at the polls, although Jeremy Corbyn insisted Labour was "absolutely ready" for a general election, despite failing to deliver on its pledge to snatch key councils from the Tory clutches.

While Labour made gains in areas like Plymouth and Trafford, it was unable to win the Tory "crown jewels" in London, such as Wandsworth and Westminster.

The party had hoped to seize Kensington and Chelsea from the Tories in the wake of public outcry over the Grenfell Tower tragedy but failed to do so, while its chances in Barnet - which has a large Jewish population - may have been damaged by the recent antisemitism row.

The Conservatives capitalised on the near-collapse of Ukip, and gained control of councils in Peterborough, Southend and Basildon, with a small swing in their favour outside London.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats won several councils - including target seats of Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames - while the Greens elected a string of new councillors.

Former Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney said the party was calling Richmond-upon-Thames.

She told BBC News: "We are very confident, in fact we are going to call it. We think we are going to be taking control of Richmond council tonight."

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:40

Results are coming in from Wandsworth. 

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:41

Labour sources have said they do not believe they will take overall control of Kensington and Chelsea Council, the Tory-run local authority linked to the Grenfell Tower fire.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:44

Labour have lost overall control of Derby with three seats still to be declared.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:47

In terms of overall councillors, Labour has gained 18, the Tories have gained 22 and the Lib Dems have gained 26. 

The big losers? UKIP. They have lost 80 councillors. 

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:48

The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Labour group has conceded the party will not take overall control of the local council.

Robert Atkinson estimated the party would gain five or six seats - "substantial progress for us" - but that the Tories would retain control.

Speaking at the Town Hall count early on Friday morning, he said he was expecting Labour councillors to be elected in the Chelsea Riverside ward.

There are currently no Labour councillors in the south of the borough.

He said: "The Tories will still be in control but by a much smaller margin than last time. They've been humbled, finally."

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:55

Labour has held all three wards in Underhill, Barnet - projections suggest it will be a very close result.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:58

The Conservatives have retained control of Hillingdon, after winning 35 of the 65 seats.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 03:58

The Conservatives have retained control of Winchester City Council despite losing one seat to the Liberal Democrats.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 04:10
Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 04:13

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