Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1525455735

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
Comments
Local Elections 2018: The results so far

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

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.

1525389435

The result in Carlisle is too close to call, both Labour and Conservative sources say.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:17
1525389735

Labour has lost control of Nuneaton and Bedworth losing 8 seats while the Conservatives have gained 9. 

No majority for any party, resulting in a hung council.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:22
1525390038

Lib Dem sources say the party expects to make a handful of gains in Liverpool. 

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:27
1525390887

The first set of really interesting results are expected around 1am as Labour target Swindon and Tory target Basildon are expected to be announced.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:41
1525391249

Total of 12 out of 150 councils have been declared so far. 

Councillors as it stands: 

Con: 70 (+18) 

Lab: 90 (-12) 

LD: 10 (+6) 

UKIP: 0 (-18)

GRN: 0 (-1)

OTH: 15 (+7)

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:47
1525391353

Tories hold Swindon as Labour only gains one seat. Jeremy Corbyn's party will be disappointed with that.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:49
1525391417

Conservative sources are optimistic that they will take control of Colchester, but say it is a close call.

The Conservatives need to gain three seats at the council which currently has no overall control.

The Conservatives have taken the first seat from the Liberal Democrats with 16 more wards to declare.

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:50
1525391504

Sadiq Khan: "I’ve been campaigning across London and it’s quite remarkable to see us being competitive in boroughs that used to be “no go” areas for Labour in previous years. No more.

"It would be truly astonishing if Labour were to take control of Wandsworth council - which has been a flagship Tory council for forty years - and winning here is above even our wildest expectations. We last won here in 1974 ...

"In Wandsworth we stand a real chance of winning councillors in some wards that Labour hasn’t represented since I was born - but it would be a real earthquake if we were to win control of the council - above even our wildest expectations.

"Whatever the outcome here tonight, it’s clear that London has turned its back on Theresa May’s Government - who neither like nor understand Londoners, our values or our way of life."

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:51
1525391522

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:52
1525391555

The Conservatives are set to take control of Portsmouth, party sources say. 

Kristin Hugo4 May 2018 00:52

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in