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| Election results: Jeremy Corbyn to face renewed pressure after Labour setbacks in Scotland and Wales | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour has been punished by voters in Scotland and Wales – but did better than expected in England - in the first big test of the party’s popularity since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader. | Labour has been punished by voters in Scotland and Wales – but did better than expected in England - in the first big test of the party’s popularity since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader. |
| In a highly symbolic result the party looks set to be pushed into third place behind the Conservatives in Scotland – losing more than nine points in its share of the vote. | In a highly symbolic result the party looks set to be pushed into third place behind the Conservatives in Scotland – losing more than nine points in its share of the vote. |
| But it was not a night of triumph for the SNP either. They look likely to be deprived with of their overall majority in Scottish Parliament after a better than expected performance by the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens lessening the prospect of another early independence referendum. | But it was not a night of triumph for the SNP either. They look likely to be deprived with of their overall majority in Scottish Parliament after a better than expected performance by the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens lessening the prospect of another early independence referendum. |
| Meanwhile in Wales Labour lost the totemic seat of Rhondda in the Welsh Assembly to the Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood. Ukip has also made a breakthrough in Wales so far securing five Assembly seats – mainly at the expense of Labour. | Meanwhile in Wales Labour lost the totemic seat of Rhondda in the Welsh Assembly to the Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood. Ukip has also made a breakthrough in Wales so far securing five Assembly seats – mainly at the expense of Labour. |
| But the scale of predicted losses in English local elections did not materialise with Labour retaining control key councils such as Crawley, Southampton, Norwich and Hastings, where its vote had looked vulnerable. | But the scale of predicted losses in English local elections did not materialise with Labour retaining control key councils such as Crawley, Southampton, Norwich and Hastings, where its vote had looked vulnerable. |
| An analysis of the council results by the BBC suggested that Labour's vote share was down about 6 per cent since 2012 - the last time the seats in England were contested. However it was up 4 per cent on the general election in key wards, with the Conservatives down by a similar amount. | An analysis of the council results by the BBC suggested that Labour's vote share was down about 6 per cent since 2012 - the last time the seats in England were contested. However it was up 4 per cent on the general election in key wards, with the Conservatives down by a similar amount. |
| Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson admitted that the party had a mountain to climb if it was to stand any chance of being competitive at the next General Election. | Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson admitted that the party had a mountain to climb if it was to stand any chance of being competitive at the next General Election. |
| “I don't have all the answers but I understand the seriousness of the task ahead,” he said, when questioned on Labour's huge losses in Scotland. | “I don't have all the answers but I understand the seriousness of the task ahead,” he said, when questioned on Labour's huge losses in Scotland. |
| But he gave Mr Corbyn a stay of execution from his backbench critics adding: “After 8 months it would be unfair and improper to hang this result on Jeremy Corbyn's peg alone". | But he gave Mr Corbyn a stay of execution from his backbench critics adding: “After 8 months it would be unfair and improper to hang this result on Jeremy Corbyn's peg alone". |
| Others, however, were less forgiving. Backbench MP Neil Coyle warned the party was "moving away from government" under the veteran left-winger, while the leader of the Labour group on Portsmouth Council, John Ferret, denounced Mr Corbyns as "incompetent" and "incapable of giving the leadership we need". | Others, however, were less forgiving. Backbench MP Neil Coyle warned the party was "moving away from government" under the veteran left-winger, while the leader of the Labour group on Portsmouth Council, John Ferret, denounced Mr Corbyns as "incompetent" and "incapable of giving the leadership we need". |
| Later today there is expected to be better news for Mr Corybyn when Sadiq Khan, the party’s candidate for London Mayor, is expected to defeat Zac Goldsmith to seize the mantle of London Mayor from the Tories. That result is expected late this afternoon. | Later today there is expected to be better news for Mr Corybyn when Sadiq Khan, the party’s candidate for London Mayor, is expected to defeat Zac Goldsmith to seize the mantle of London Mayor from the Tories. That result is expected late this afternoon. |
| Among the highlights of the results so far: | Among the highlights of the results so far: |
| Labour strategists will, with some justification, claim that these results are being judged against the party’s high watermark in 2012 in the midst of George Osborne’s ‘omnishambles’ budget when they were last contested. | Labour strategists will, with some justification, claim that these results are being judged against the party’s high watermark in 2012 in the midst of George Osborne’s ‘omnishambles’ budget when they were last contested. |
| But none-the-less they are likely to lead to renewed pressure on the Labour leader particularly given the result in Scotland where Mr Corbyn had claimed his position on Trident and left wing policy platform would help the party rebuild support. | But none-the-less they are likely to lead to renewed pressure on the Labour leader particularly given the result in Scotland where Mr Corbyn had claimed his position on Trident and left wing policy platform would help the party rebuild support. |
| Responding to claims Labour is not doing as well as it should be, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC: "We are laying the foundations for a four-year programme." | Responding to claims Labour is not doing as well as it should be, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC: "We are laying the foundations for a four-year programme." |
| "If you compare, from when Jeremy took over to now, we are on a clear path of improvement. That's exactly what our strategy is all about." | "If you compare, from when Jeremy took over to now, we are on a clear path of improvement. That's exactly what our strategy is all about." |
| He said in Scotland the picture was "complex" and Labour was "at the early stages" of rebuilding support having been "wiped out" in 2015. | He said in Scotland the picture was "complex" and Labour was "at the early stages" of rebuilding support having been "wiped out" in 2015. |
| Meanwhile, shadow cabinet minister Andy Burnham revealed he was considering running for mayor of Greater Manchester, in an apparent sign that pessimism about Labour's prospects of regaining power at Westminster reaches into the party's highest echelons. | Meanwhile, shadow cabinet minister Andy Burnham revealed he was considering running for mayor of Greater Manchester, in an apparent sign that pessimism about Labour's prospects of regaining power at Westminster reaches into the party's highest echelons. |