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Local elections: Tories and Labour hit by Brexit backlash in polls Local elections: Tories and Labour hit by Brexit backlash in polls
(32 minutes later)
The Conservatives and Labour have faced a backlash at the ballot box over the Brexit deadlock, as smaller parties and independents made local election gains.The Conservatives and Labour have faced a backlash at the ballot box over the Brexit deadlock, as smaller parties and independents made local election gains.
In England so far, the Tories have lost almost 1,000 seats and 35 councils overall, while the Liberal Democrats have gained nearly 550 councillors. In England so far, the Tories have lost more than 1,000 seats and 36 councils overall, while the Liberal Democrats have gained nearly 550 councillors.
Labour has lost more than 100 seats.Labour has lost more than 100 seats.
The BBC projects that, if results it analysed were replicated across Britain, both the Conservatives and Labour would get 28% of the total vote.The BBC projects that, if results it analysed were replicated across Britain, both the Conservatives and Labour would get 28% of the total vote.
The analysis, based on 650 wards in which detailed voting figures were collected, implies the Lib Dems would get 19% and other parties and independents 25%.The analysis, based on 650 wards in which detailed voting figures were collected, implies the Lib Dems would get 19% and other parties and independents 25%.
More than 200 of the 248 English councils holding elections have now announced their results, with counting continuing elsewhere. More than 200 of the 248 English councils holding elections have now announced their results, with counts continuing elsewhere.
The Green Party has added 140 seats so far, but UKIP is down more than 80 councillors. Meanwhile, the number of independent councillors is up by more than 300.The Green Party has added 140 seats so far, but UKIP is down more than 80 councillors. Meanwhile, the number of independent councillors is up by more than 300.
Results from Northern Ireland's 11 councils are also being announced. No local elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales.Results from Northern Ireland's 11 councils are also being announced. No local elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales.
MPs have yet to agree on a deal for leaving the European Union, and as a result, the deadline of Brexit has been pushed back from 29 March to 31 October.MPs have yet to agree on a deal for leaving the European Union, and as a result, the deadline of Brexit has been pushed back from 29 March to 31 October.
While local elections give voters the chance to choose the decision-makers who affect their communities, the national issue loomed large on the doorstep.While local elections give voters the chance to choose the decision-makers who affect their communities, the national issue loomed large on the doorstep.
Key developments so far:Key developments so far:
Theresa May, appearing at the Welsh Conservative conference, said voters had sent the "simple message" that her party and Labour had to "get on" with delivering Brexit.Theresa May, appearing at the Welsh Conservative conference, said voters had sent the "simple message" that her party and Labour had to "get on" with delivering Brexit.
"These were always going to be difficult elections for us," she added, "and there were some challenging results for us last night, but it was a bad night for Labour too.""These were always going to be difficult elections for us," she added, "and there were some challenging results for us last night, but it was a bad night for Labour too."
A heckler shouted at the prime minister: "Why don't you resign?" He was then ushered out of the conference hall in Llangollen, North Wales, as the audience chanted: "Out, out, out."A heckler shouted at the prime minister: "Why don't you resign?" He was then ushered out of the conference hall in Llangollen, North Wales, as the audience chanted: "Out, out, out."
Speaking in Greater Manchester, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he "wanted to do better" and conceded voters who disagreed with its backing for Brexit had deserted the party.Speaking in Greater Manchester, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he "wanted to do better" and conceded voters who disagreed with its backing for Brexit had deserted the party.
But Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, in Chelmsford Essex, where his party took control of the council, said it had been a "brilliant" result and that "every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for stopping Brexit".But Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, in Chelmsford Essex, where his party took control of the council, said it had been a "brilliant" result and that "every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for stopping Brexit".
Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the days of the Conservatives and Labour dominating the electoral landscape, as happened in the 2017 election, when they won 80% of the vote between them, "may be over".Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the days of the Conservatives and Labour dominating the electoral landscape, as happened in the 2017 election, when they won 80% of the vote between them, "may be over".
He said it was only the second time in history that the two main parties' projected national share of the vote had fallen below 30%.He said it was only the second time in history that the two main parties' projected national share of the vote had fallen below 30%.
The only other occasion was in 2013, when UKIP performed strongly in local elections.The only other occasion was in 2013, when UKIP performed strongly in local elections.
Prof Curtice said the Conservatives and Labour had both lost ground heavily since last year's local elections when both were estimated to be on 35%.Prof Curtice said the Conservatives and Labour had both lost ground heavily since last year's local elections when both were estimated to be on 35%.
While the Lib Dem figure was the highest since 2010, when they agreed to join the coalition government with the Conservatives, he said it was still well below the 24% the party regularly achieved in the 1990s and 2000s.While the Lib Dem figure was the highest since 2010, when they agreed to join the coalition government with the Conservatives, he said it was still well below the 24% the party regularly achieved in the 1990s and 2000s.
Green Party co-leader Sian Berry said she was confident her party would end the day with a "record number of councillors on a record number of councils".Green Party co-leader Sian Berry said she was confident her party would end the day with a "record number of councillors on a record number of councils".
She told BBC Breakfast the Greens were not simply benefiting from a protest vote over Brexit and their gains reflected "huge new concerns" about climate change as well as the strength of their local campaigning on a range of issues.She told BBC Breakfast the Greens were not simply benefiting from a protest vote over Brexit and their gains reflected "huge new concerns" about climate change as well as the strength of their local campaigning on a range of issues.
For UKIP, Lawrence Webb, a former London mayoral candidate who is standing in this month's European elections, said the party's "fortunes were on the up", despite the fall in its number of councillors.For UKIP, Lawrence Webb, a former London mayoral candidate who is standing in this month's European elections, said the party's "fortunes were on the up", despite the fall in its number of councillors.
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.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.
It's not over - it's far, far from over.It's not over - it's far, far from over.
Many hundreds of seats are yet to declare. Many individual political stories yet to be told. So be very aware - the final shape of wins and losses for the government and the main opposition is unclear.Many hundreds of seats are yet to declare. Many individual political stories yet to be told. So be very aware - the final shape of wins and losses for the government and the main opposition is unclear.
But at this stage of the morning, there is one message to both of the main parties at Westminster from this enormous set of elections - it's not us, it's both of you.But at this stage of the morning, there is one message to both of the main parties at Westminster from this enormous set of elections - it's not us, it's both of you.
Council leaders from both parties are saying openly that voters can't trust them any more because of how they have dealt with Brexit. This is a verdict on the competence of Westminster's biggest parties - on the mess of handling Brexit.Council leaders from both parties are saying openly that voters can't trust them any more because of how they have dealt with Brexit. This is a verdict on the competence of Westminster's biggest parties - on the mess of handling Brexit.
Read more from Laura here.Read more from Laura here.
Six mayoral elections have also taken place, with Labour's Jamie Driscoll winning the contest to become the first ever North of Tyne mayor.Six mayoral elections have also taken place, with Labour's Jamie Driscoll winning the contest to become the first ever North of Tyne mayor.
Labour candidates also won in Leicester and Mansfield but the party out lost to independents in Middlesbrough and Copeland.Labour candidates also won in Leicester and Mansfield but the party out lost to independents in Middlesbrough and Copeland.
Either search using your postcode or council name or click around the map to show local results.Either search using your postcode or council name or click around the map to show local results.