LIVE: Latest updates from across Yorkshire and beyond as local election results roll in
Labour’s Chris Webb won the Blackpool South parliamentary seat with a swing of 26.33 per cent from the Tories and Sir Keir Starmer’s party also secured council wins in areas which will be key general election battlegrounds later this year.
Results are expected from across Yorkshire today, including in the tightly-contested Tees Valley mayor, where the imcumbent Ben Houchen will hope to hang on to his seat.
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Hide AdThe Tories avoided the humiliation of coming third in Blackpool South, but finished just 117 votes ahead of Reform UK.
Out of the 107 councils where votes were held on Thursday, just 35 counted overnight – but the results make grim reading for the Prime Minister.
The Tories lost control of three authorities and 96 councillors lost their seats. Labour gained three authorities and 58 councillors.
Elections expert Professor Sir John Curtice said the Tories could be on course to lose 500 councillors in “one of the worst, if not the worst” performances by the party in 40 years.
Follow our live blow below for all the latest updates.
Local elections 2024 live
Key Events
Labour believes it has taken control of Rushmoor Council for the first time
Labour sources say it has taken control of Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire. The local authority includes home of the British Army in Aldershot.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This is a truly historic result. Rushmoor - the home of the British Army - has never had a majority Labour council before, and has been run by the Tories for the last 24 years.
“This result demonstrates just how much the Labour Party has changed and people in Rushmoor know that only Labour can deliver the change they want to see. A Labour gain for Rushmoor is a result Rishi Sunak cannot ignore. It’s time for a general election.”
Analysis: breadth of Labour's wins will worry Conservatives
Listening to the Tory Cabinet ministers who have appeared on the news channels tonight, you would think the Labour Party was losing seat after seat. Both Mark Harper and Chris Heaton-Harris naturally questioned whether Keir Starmer’s wins would translate to a general election victory.
Wait for the mayoral contests they said, clinging on to the hope that Andy Street and Ben Houchen will get evaporate the other losses. Away from the TV cameras, tonight’s results will seriously worry Tory campaign chiefs.
As well as taking control of the Red Wall council of Hartlepool, Labour has gained Thurrock in Essex and Rushmoor in Hampshire. These are three very different areas, but all are the kind of bellwethers Labour will need to win to put Keir Starmer in No10.
A lot of red on our interactive map
Our interactive map is starting to take shape, and it’s already starting to look a bit worrying. There’s a lot of red appearing on the map as Labour takes Rushmoor, Hartlepool and Thurrock and not much blue, with the Tories losing North East Lincolnshire.
Lib Dem hold - Hull
The Liberal Democrats have held onto Hull Council, fighting off Labour.
Conservative hold - Fareham
Finally some good news for Tories, the party has kept control of the Hampshire council of Fareham. The Conservatives won 17 of the first 22 seats to be declared.
Labour largest party in Peterborough
Peterborough Council may stay in no overall control, but it still points to Labour’s resurgence. Keir Starmer’s party is the largest on the council, which has had almost continuous Conservative rule for the last 20 years.
No overall control - Southend
Labour have become the largest party in the Essex seaside town of Southend, however that wasn’t enough to take a majority.
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