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Election 2019: Main parties fear Brexit backlash in polls Local elections: Main parties fear Brexit backlash in polls
(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. 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.
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 independent candidates were a further indication of the apparent "plague on all your houses" mood of the polls, with an increase of 43 seats with just 43 councils' results declared - three times what they had in the same seats before the vote.He also said independent candidates were a further indication of the apparent "plague on all your houses" mood of the polls, with an increase of 43 seats with just 43 councils' results declared - three times what they had in the same seats before the vote.
Both Labour and the Conservatives have so far lost two councils each - the former, Hartlepool and Wirral, and the latter, Basildon and Tandridge. The Conservatives have so far lost control of five councils - including Basildon and St Albans - with Labour losing control of two, Hartlepool and Wirral.
The Tories have won one council - Walsall - which no party previously had control of, and held Swindon, despite anger in the area about the loss of a major employer.The Tories have won one council - Walsall - which no party previously had control of, and held Swindon, despite anger in the area about the loss of a major employer.
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]."
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. 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.
"[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. 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, which is both frustrating people that it hasn't happened and also taking up far too much time."
"She still has a degree of personal sympathy, but I think people think it is time for a change."
'Loud and clear''Loud and clear'
Labour's shadow international development secretary Barry Gardiner said his party may struggle in the polls to please both Remain and Leave voters because the party's Brexit policy. Labour's shadow international development secretary Barry Gardiner said his party may struggle in the polls to please both Remain and Leave voters because of the party's Brexit 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."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.
"If a party is seen to be speaking with two voices, it's very difficult to communicate the policy.""If a party is seen to be speaking with two voices, it's very difficult to communicate the policy."
The leader of Barnsley Council, Labour's Steve Houghton, also predicted a "very difficult night" for his party.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.""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.
UKIP's Mike Hookem said his party was taking votes from both the Conservatives and Labour, adding: "We've had two years of turmoil. We're back on the rise again."UKIP's Mike Hookem said his party was taking votes from both the Conservatives and Labour, adding: "We've had two years of turmoil. We're back on the rise again."
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.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. 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 sorts 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.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.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.
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.