Local elections - as it happened: Corbyn insists Labour ‘ready for an election', despite missing top London targets
All the latest updates, as they happened
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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.
Sinn Fein's retain their West Tyrone seat after Barry McElduff was forced to resign as the MP in January, 10 days after a controversy flared when he posted a video of himself with a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the notorious Kingsmill massacre.
State of parties after 40 of 150 councils
Conservatives: 14 councils (+2); 228 seats (+44)
Labour: 21 councils (-1); 387 seats (-11)
LibDems: 59 seats (+7)
Green: 5 seats (+1)
UKIP: lost 18 seats
Independent: 38 seats (-18)
Liberal: lost 1 seat
Ratepayers and Residents: 10 seats (-4)
No overall control: 5 councils (-1)
There are reports that the government's voter ID trials resulted in 21 per cent of voters being turned away.
Worcester will remain under no overall control after all 13 wards have been declared.
The council had been a target for both the Conservatives and Labour.
Labour cannot take overall control of Dudley council with results from 21 of the 24 wards up for election declared.
The party had needed to win at least 12 wards to take control.
Labour has lost a seat to the Tories in a former stronghold with a high proportion of Jewish voters.
Ari Leitner romped home in the Kersal ward in Salford with 1,660 votes to 910 for Labour incumbent Ann-Marie Humphreys.
The victory is a possible further sign of a backlash for Labour after the recent controversy over allegations of antisemitism in the party.
More than 40 per cent of the population in Kersal described themselves as Jewish as the last census and in March the Tories won a by-election in the ward, the party's first win there in 25 years.
Conservatives have lost control of Trafford Council as other parties have won 14 of the 22 seats up for electionso far, with results from some wards still to come.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, at the Wandsworth count, told the Press Association: "What I'd be disappointed by was if we didn't make progress across London in terms of the numbers of councillors.
"The results four years ago were the best since 1971 and that's the context.
"We are only competitive because of the hard work of the activists and everyone who has campaigned in these elections."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments