Local elections - as it happened: Corbyn insists Labour ‘ready for an election', despite missing top London targets
All the latest updates, as they happened
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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.
The Tories have taken control of Basildon, which was up for grabs after a UKIP collapse.
Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell played down suggestions the party could take Tory councils such as Wandsworth and said he believed it would be "really mixed" throughout the night.
"Some of the speculation about Wandsworth, we haven't won Wandsworth since 74," he told BBC News.
"I don't think there are going to be big swings. What we are looking for is incremental gains that will lay the foundations."
Conservatives have held Southend-on-Sea, winning eight of 17 seats contested.
Conservatives have held Southend-on-Sea, winning eight of 17 seats contested.
The result at Walsall is too close to call, Conservative and Labour sources say. Both parties are hoping to gain control of the council, which is currently under no overall control.
The Conservatives have retained control of Amber Valley after winning five of the 15 seats contested.
Lib Dem sources say Richmond is on a "knife edge" but they expect to do well.
The party has made a handful of gains in Hull, Portsmouth, Gosport and West Oxfordshire, they added.
The Liberal Democrat leader of Colchester Council, Paul Smith, has lost his seat in St Anne's and St John's ward to the Conservatives, who are hoping to take control of the council.
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