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Election 2019: First results declared after England and NI poll Election 2019: First results declared after England and NI poll
(32 minutes later)
Counting is under way in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, with disillusionment about Brexit expected to be a big factor.Counting is under way in 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.
Sunderland City Council was the first authority to declare a result, with Labour holding onto control. 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. The Northern Irish results will take longer to come in. No local elections are taking place in Scotland and Wales.
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.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg says there are suggestions the Conservatives could lose up to 800 seats, and on early predictions, the Liberal Democrats could gain as many as 500. 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.
Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice said it may be the smaller parties that see the biggest victories, with early results showing increases for the Green Party and UKIP. She says the Conservatives are predicted to lose up to 800 seats, while the Lib Dems could gain as many as 500.
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."
Brexit 'discontent'Brexit 'discontent'
Mr 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]." Both Labour and the Conservatives have so far lost two councils each - the former, Hartlepool and Wirral, and the latter, Basildon and Tandridge.
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]."
His fellow Tory MP and leading Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin said voters were "resorting to protest parties" and placed some of the blame at Theresa May's door.
"[Voters] can see she has lost the plot, she has got a very divided cabinet [and] they can see she does not have control of events," he told the BBC.
"She still has a degree of personal sympathy, but I think people think it is time for a change."
Labour's shadow international development secretary Barry Gardiner also told the BBC early results indicated the electorate's view on Brexit.Labour's shadow international development secretary Barry Gardiner also told the BBC early results indicated the electorate's view on Brexit.
He said the rise in share for UKIP in Sunderland was not "remarkable" given the "disquiet over Brexit", and the 5% rise for the Green Party could be Labour voters "registering their discontent on what they see the [party's] Brexit position being".He said the rise in share for UKIP in Sunderland was not "remarkable" given the "disquiet over Brexit", and the 5% rise for the Green Party could be Labour voters "registering their discontent on what they see the [party's] Brexit position being".
The leader of Barnsley Council, Labour's Steve Houghton, also predicted a "very difficult night" for his party.
"We've been out and about across the borough and the message we're getting loud and clear is all about Brexit," he said. "The residents are telling us they're going to make sure there's some changes because of their dissatisfaction."
The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, said her party was aiming for triple-figure gains, telling the BBC the "only thing that unites the country" is anger over Brexit.The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, said her party was aiming for triple-figure gains, telling the BBC the "only thing that unites the country" is anger over Brexit.
What we are seeing at this early stage of the night - and what some politicians privately feared - is that both of the main parties, Labour and Tory, will be punished by people at the ballot box for the chaos, turbulence and what has resulted in gridlock at Westminster.
Of course local elections play hard on the issues that matter to people around the country - who looks at schools, who looks at transport, all those sports of things.
But no question about it, our two big parties do seem to be losing out because of their individual agonies over the Brexit process.
And the smaller parties, whether that's the Lib Dems or the Greens in some areas too, appear to be benefitting from that.
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.
Voter turnout has yet to be confirmed, but it often varies depending on what other elections are taking place on the same day.Voter turnout has yet to be confirmed, but it often varies depending on what other elections are taking place on the same day.
Local elections in 2018 saw a turnout of just 36%, but in 2015 - when they coincided with a general election - turnout reached around 64%.Local elections in 2018 saw a turnout of just 36%, but in 2015 - when they coincided with a general election - turnout reached around 64%.
By 06:00 BST results from just under half of the English councils (108) are expected to have come in.By 06:00 BST results from just under half of the English councils (108) are expected to have come in.
The remaining 140 are scheduled to come in throughout Friday, mostly between midday and 19:00 BST. Cheshire East is expected to declare last at 21:00.The remaining 140 are scheduled to come in throughout Friday, mostly between midday and 19:00 BST. Cheshire East is expected to declare last at 21:00.
The Northern Irish results will take longer to come through because of a more complicated voting system.The Northern Irish results will take longer to come through because of a more complicated voting system.
The first results are in...
Analysis by Prof Sir John Curtice, polling expert
The first key results of wards in Sunderland show a 6.5% increase in the UKIP vote, even though the party is defending the relatively high baseline that it enjoyed in 2015.
If this pattern continues, then we will get ample confirmation of the rise in support for Eurosceptic parties - as indicated in the opinion polls.
However, in Sunderland it is Labour, not the Conservatives, whose vote has fallen sharply - so far by no less than 17 points.
Here at least may be an indication that in a very strong Leave Labour voting area that Euroscepticism could well serve to erode Labour's support.
Compared with last year's local election results, the Conservative vote in Sunderland is also well down, albeit not to the same extent as support for Labour.
But this is a city that has had some unusual local voting patterns in the past and we should not get too wrapped up in its results.
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.
All day, voters in many parts of England and in Northern Ireland have been casting their ballots, expressing their views on the politicians who had put themselves up for scrutiny, stepping forward for the chance to be part of important decisions about our communities.
Each and every area will have its own stories, each of us our own motivations for which box, or none, we tick.
What happens in towns, villages and cities, and the decisions made by town halls and councillors has a huge bearing, of course, on these results.
Whatever happens in the next 24 hours as the results emerge, bear in mind that the results of these local elections are not a beautifully clear, let alone reliable, crystal ball that will reveal the future.
But these contests are an enormous set of elections, much bigger than the normal set of local ballots, and an important chance to test how the craziness of our national politics right now is going down with the public.
Read more from Laura here.
Voters in 10 local authorities in England needed to either show ID or produce their polling card before they can vote as part of a trial scheme.
Those in Braintree, Broxtowe, Craven, Derby, North Kesteven, Woking and Pendle had to show ID before they could vote.
Voters in Mid Sussex, North West Leicestershire, and Watford local authorities were required to show their polling card.
Everyone else in England was able to vote as usual, with no need to bring along a polling card or any proof of ID.
But in Northern Ireland, voters needed photo ID, with the polling card received through the post being for information purposes only.