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Local elections: Main parties fear Brexit backlash in polls Local elections: Main parties fear Brexit backlash in polls
(32 minutes later)
Results are coming in after local elections in England and Northern Ireland, with disillusionment about Brexit expected to be a big factor.Results are coming in after local elections in England and Northern Ireland, with disillusionment about Brexit expected to be a big factor.
Voting took place for 248 English councils, six mayors and all 11 councils in Northern Ireland.Voting took place for 248 English councils, six mayors and all 11 councils in Northern Ireland.
Minister James Cleverly said it would be a "tough night" for the Tories, who expect to lose hundreds of seats.Minister James Cleverly said it would be a "tough night" for the Tories, who expect to lose hundreds of seats.
Labour councillors have also warned of a "very difficult night" for their party, with both sides blaming Brexit.Labour councillors have also warned of a "very difficult night" for their party, with both sides blaming Brexit.
Results for 108 English councils are expected before 06:00, with the other 140 results expected throughout Friday.Results for 108 English councils are expected before 06:00, with the other 140 results expected throughout Friday.
The Northern Irish results will take longer to come in. No local elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales.The Northern Irish results will take longer to come in. No local elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales.
Local elections give voters the chance to choose the decision-makers who affect their communities, but national politics always forms the backdrop - and in this case, Brexit looms large.Local elections give voters the chance to choose the decision-makers who affect their communities, but national politics always forms the backdrop - and in this case, Brexit looms large.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says early results suggest both of the two main parties are being punished for their handling of it, with smaller parties, such as the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and UKIP, benefitting from their losses.BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says early results suggest both of the two main parties are being punished for their handling of it, with smaller parties, such as the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and UKIP, benefitting from their losses.
She says the Conservatives have been predicted to lose up to 800 seats, while the Lib Dems could gain as many as 500. She says the Conservatives have been predicted to lose up to 800 seats, while the Lib Dems could gain as many as 500 - but it is still too early to assess the overall picture.
North/south divide
Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice agreed it may be the smaller parties celebrating on Friday.Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice agreed it may be the smaller parties celebrating on Friday.
"One of the major features of the 2017 general election was that, between them, the Conservatives and Labour dominated the election, winning over 80% of votes - the biggest combined share since 1970," he said."One of the major features of the 2017 general election was that, between them, the Conservatives and Labour dominated the election, winning over 80% of votes - the biggest combined share since 1970," he said.
"On these early signs, we might be saying tonight those days are over. The message of the opinion polls that both the Conservatives and Labour have been losing ground in the Brexit impasse might be confirmed by end of night.""On these early signs, we might be saying tonight those days are over. The message of the opinion polls that both the Conservatives and Labour have been losing ground in the Brexit impasse might be confirmed by end of night."
He also said gains for independent candidates across the country were a further indication of the apparent "plague on all your houses" mood of the polls. Prof Sir John said there was a north/south divide emerging in the losses too, with the Conservatives shedding more seats in the South - especially in areas that voted Remain - and Labour losing more in the North.
Gains for independent candidates across the country were a further indication of the apparent "plague on all your houses" mood of the polls, he added.
James Cleverly said he hoped local councillors would be judged on their individual performance, but told BBC News: "It is unrealistic for me to pretend that with nine years in government and Brexit as a backdrop, [it will] be anything other than a tough night for [the Conservative Party]."James Cleverly said he hoped local councillors would be judged on their individual performance, but told BBC News: "It is unrealistic for me to pretend that with nine years in government and Brexit as a backdrop, [it will] be anything other than a tough night for [the Conservative Party]."
Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the Conservative backbench 1922 committee, said Brexit had been a "massive frustration" for voters and affected the number of Tory supporters coming out.Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the Conservative backbench 1922 committee, said Brexit had been a "massive frustration" for voters and affected the number of Tory supporters coming out.
He told the BBC: "We need to be more obviously competent as a government and we need to make progress - crucially on the central issue of Brexit."He told the BBC: "We need to be more obviously competent as a government and we need to make progress - crucially on the central issue of Brexit."
Key developments so far:
Labour's shadow international development secretary Barry Gardiner said his party may struggle in the polls to please both Remain and Leave voters.Labour's shadow international development secretary Barry Gardiner said his party may struggle in the polls to please both Remain and Leave voters.
"There are two competing principles here and we are trying to hold them in tension," he told the BBC. "We are trying to say there is a way to reconcile them [but] if a party is seen to be speaking with two voices, it's very difficult to communicate the policy.""There are two competing principles here and we are trying to hold them in tension," he told the BBC. "We are trying to say there is a way to reconcile them [but] if a party is seen to be speaking with two voices, it's very difficult to communicate the policy."
But Labour MP Jess Phillips said her party's policy on Brexit had "failed" and they needed to show more "bravery" over the issue.But Labour MP Jess Phillips said her party's policy on Brexit had "failed" and they needed to show more "bravery" over the issue.
The Green Party's co-leader, Sian Berry, said she was excited by the breakthroughs her members were making onto new councils.The Green Party's co-leader, Sian Berry, said she was excited by the breakthroughs her members were making onto new councils.
She told the BBC: "[We have been] dealing with the problems that led to Brexit which were these big councils dominated by one party taking people for granted and not listening to them, while central government is ignoring whole swathes of the country.She told the BBC: "[We have been] dealing with the problems that led to Brexit which were these big councils dominated by one party taking people for granted and not listening to them, while central government is ignoring whole swathes of the country.
"People are swinging to other parties because of the Brexit mess but let's not forget it is also because of the problems that led to Brexit as well.""People are swinging to other parties because of the Brexit mess but let's not forget it is also because of the problems that led to Brexit as well."
Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey said his party was having an "awesome night" thanks to voters "rejecting" both Labour and the Conservatives.Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey said his party was having an "awesome night" thanks to voters "rejecting" both Labour and the Conservatives.
And UKIP's Mike Hookem said his party was taking votes from both the main parties too, adding: "We've had two years of turmoil. We're back on the rise again."And UKIP's Mike Hookem said his party was taking votes from both the main parties too, adding: "We've had two years of turmoil. We're back on the rise again."
Key developments so far:
This is the biggest set of local elections in England's four-year electoral cycle, with more than 8,400 seats being contested.This is the biggest set of local elections in England's four-year electoral cycle, with more than 8,400 seats being contested.
A further 462 seats are up for grabs in Northern Ireland.A further 462 seats are up for grabs in Northern Ireland.
If you forget about Brexit for a moment - perish the thought - and apply some of the more traditional expectations to a night like this, what you would expect to see at this stage in the election cycle is a government losing lots and lots of seats and the opposition really making strides.If you forget about Brexit for a moment - perish the thought - and apply some of the more traditional expectations to a night like this, what you would expect to see at this stage in the election cycle is a government losing lots and lots of seats and the opposition really making strides.
So far tonight though, it seems none of those things are really happening and Brexit seems to have changed yet another set of conventions.So far tonight though, it seems none of those things are really happening and Brexit seems to have changed yet another set of conventions.
What we are seeing in various different shades - whether it is support moving to the Lib Dems or support moving to the Greens - is people are almost saying, "as long as it is not either of the two main parties, I am happy to go with that."What we are seeing in various different shades - whether it is support moving to the Lib Dems or support moving to the Greens - is people are almost saying, "as long as it is not either of the two main parties, I am happy to go with that."
What it does mean in terms of the potential lessons for an eventual general election though is the results so far do not suggest that either party can break away from each other.What it does mean in terms of the potential lessons for an eventual general election though is the results so far do not suggest that either party can break away from each other.
Of the 248 elections in England, 168 have been district councils which are in charge of setting and collecting council tax, bin collections, local planning and council housing.Of the 248 elections in England, 168 have been district councils which are in charge of setting and collecting council tax, bin collections, local planning and council housing.
There were also elections taking place for 47 unitary authorities and 33 metropolitan boroughs which look after education, public transport, policing and fire services, as well as all the services of district councils.There were also elections taking place for 47 unitary authorities and 33 metropolitan boroughs which look after education, public transport, policing and fire services, as well as all the services of district councils.
In Northern Ireland, councils are responsible for services including local planning and licensing, waste collection and enforcing safety regulations to do with food, workplaces and the environment.In Northern Ireland, councils are responsible for services including local planning and licensing, waste collection and enforcing safety regulations to do with food, workplaces and the environment.