This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22382098
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Local elections: UKIP makes gains as Tories defend council strongholds | Local elections: UKIP makes gains as Tories defend council strongholds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK Independence Party have made early gains as the results of council elections across England are declared. | The UK Independence Party have made early gains as the results of council elections across England are declared. |
| UKIP have won at least 26 seats so far and are averaging 26% of the vote in the wards where they are standing. | UKIP have won at least 26 seats so far and are averaging 26% of the vote in the wards where they are standing. |
| Polling expert Prof John Curtice said it was a "remarkable performance". | Polling expert Prof John Curtice said it was a "remarkable performance". |
| The Conservatives have lost control of Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire councils, but retained five others, while Labour made modest gains in the Midlands and the south of England. | The Conservatives have lost control of Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire councils, but retained five others, while Labour made modest gains in the Midlands and the south of England. |
| Labour have also been celebrating victories in the parliamentary by-election in South Shields and the North Tyneside mayoral contest, where Norma Redfearn defeated the Conservative incumbent Linda Arkley. | Labour have also been celebrating victories in the parliamentary by-election in South Shields and the North Tyneside mayoral contest, where Norma Redfearn defeated the Conservative incumbent Linda Arkley. |
| Tory strongholds | Tory strongholds |
| Contests are taking place in 27 English county councils and seven unitary authorities as well as Anglesey in Wales. About 2,300 council seats are up for grabs in England, in a major mid-term test for the coalition government. | Contests are taking place in 27 English county councils and seven unitary authorities as well as Anglesey in Wales. About 2,300 council seats are up for grabs in England, in a major mid-term test for the coalition government. |
| Most of the counts will take place later on Friday. | Most of the counts will take place later on Friday. |
| The Conservatives had braced themselves for a tough night, with David Cameron admitting that voters liked to punish governing parties between general elections. | The Conservatives had braced themselves for a tough night, with David Cameron admitting that voters liked to punish governing parties between general elections. |
| The Tories are defending thousands of seats last fought in 2009 - when they were in opposition and when Labour had its worst night in local election history. | The Tories are defending thousands of seats last fought in 2009 - when they were in opposition and when Labour had its worst night in local election history. |
| Of the seven county councils to declare so far, the Tories retained control of traditional strongholds Essex, Dorset, Hampshire and Hertfordshire as well as Somerset. | Of the seven county councils to declare so far, the Tories retained control of traditional strongholds Essex, Dorset, Hampshire and Hertfordshire as well as Somerset. |
| But they lost their majorities on Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire county councils, which moved to no overall control, as both Labour and UKIP made gains. | But they lost their majorities on Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire county councils, which moved to no overall control, as both Labour and UKIP made gains. |
| UKIP surge | UKIP surge |
| Nearly 10,000 candidates were battling for seats in English councils - "top-tier" authorities in charge of schools, roads, refuse collection, fire and rescue and other local services. | Nearly 10,000 candidates were battling for seats in English councils - "top-tier" authorities in charge of schools, roads, refuse collection, fire and rescue and other local services. |
| The majority of counts are taking place later on Friday. | The majority of counts are taking place later on Friday. |
| Labour is expected to claw back ground in the north of England and make some progress in the south. In an early success, it took a seat from the Conservatives in Dorset on a 12% swing but party strategists are playing down expectations of major gains, | Labour is expected to claw back ground in the north of England and make some progress in the south. In an early success, it took a seat from the Conservatives in Dorset on a 12% swing but party strategists are playing down expectations of major gains, |
| The campaign was dominated by a war of words between the Conservatives and UKIP, which senior Tories fear will take a significant chunk of their votes. | The campaign was dominated by a war of words between the Conservatives and UKIP, which senior Tories fear will take a significant chunk of their votes. |
| UKIP is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded more than 1,700 candidates - three times the number that stood in 2009, when the party won just seven council seats. | UKIP is riding high in the opinion polls and fielded more than 1,700 candidates - three times the number that stood in 2009, when the party won just seven council seats. |
| So far, the party has won 16 seats seats in Lincolnshire - where it is now the official opposition. | So far, the party has won 16 seats seats in Lincolnshire - where it is now the official opposition. |
| The party, which campaigns for the UK to leave the European Union, has been polling 12 points higher, on average, than in wards where it stood in 2009. | The party, which campaigns for the UK to leave the European Union, has been polling 12 points higher, on average, than in wards where it stood in 2009. |
| Its leader Nigel Farage said he expected it to do "very well" and take votes from all other parties, not just the Conservatives. | Its leader Nigel Farage said he expected it to do "very well" and take votes from all other parties, not just the Conservatives. |
| 'Difficult choices' | 'Difficult choices' |
| International Development Secretary Justine Greening told the BBC that the Conservatives would look "really seriously" at what voters were saying. | International Development Secretary Justine Greening told the BBC that the Conservatives would look "really seriously" at what voters were saying. |
| "I think a lot of what we are trying to do as a government is responding to that - on cost of living, on making sure that services are good but also fixing our financial problems." | "I think a lot of what we are trying to do as a government is responding to that - on cost of living, on making sure that services are good but also fixing our financial problems." |
| Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said UKIP's rise was a "wake-up call" to other parties. | Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said UKIP's rise was a "wake-up call" to other parties. |
| "We should listen very seriously if people are feeling disaffected and disenchanted," she said on the BBC's Question Time programme. | "We should listen very seriously if people are feeling disaffected and disenchanted," she said on the BBC's Question Time programme. |
| "It is a challenge to us, it's a wake-up call for us to actually listen to people who feel that times are hard and wonder whether any of us have actually got the answers." | "It is a challenge to us, it's a wake-up call for us to actually listen to people who feel that times are hard and wonder whether any of us have actually got the answers." |
| Elsewhere, The Green Party of England and Wales won their first ever council seats in Essex but lost their only seat on Hampshire council. | |
| Mayoral contests | Mayoral contests |
| Labour candidate Norma Redfearn won the North Tyneside mayoral election, defeating Conservative incumbent Linda Arkley by 27,905 to 18,083 votes. | Labour candidate Norma Redfearn won the North Tyneside mayoral election, defeating Conservative incumbent Linda Arkley by 27,905 to 18,083 votes. |
| The result of the Doncaster mayoral contest will be known later on Friday. Incumbent Peter Davies is fighting for re-election as an independent after quitting the English Democrats. | The result of the Doncaster mayoral contest will be known later on Friday. Incumbent Peter Davies is fighting for re-election as an independent after quitting the English Democrats. |
| The Conservatives and Labour contested most local election seats, with 2,263 and 2,168 candidates respectively. | The Conservatives and Labour contested most local election seats, with 2,263 and 2,168 candidates respectively. |
| The Lib Dems had 1,763 candidates. UKIP fielded 1,745 candidates and the Greens had 893. | The Lib Dems had 1,763 candidates. UKIP fielded 1,745 candidates and the Greens had 893. |
| Other parties standing included the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which fought 120 seats, the BNP, with 99 candidates and the English Democrats, with 38 candidates. There were about 900 independent candidates. | Other parties standing included the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which fought 120 seats, the BNP, with 99 candidates and the English Democrats, with 38 candidates. There were about 900 independent candidates. |
| Local council elections were also being held in Anglesey in Wales, which is currently classified as No Overall Control but is dominated by independents. | Local council elections were also being held in Anglesey in Wales, which is currently classified as No Overall Control but is dominated by independents. |
| No elections took place in London, Scotland or Northern Ireland. | No elections took place in London, Scotland or Northern Ireland. |