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UKIP gaining votes from Tories and Labour in English elections UKIP gaining votes from Tories and Labour in English elections
(35 minutes later)
UKIP is gaining council seats across England at the expense of both the Conservatives and Labour.UKIP is gaining council seats across England at the expense of both the Conservatives and Labour.
The anti-EU party is on course to show that last year's local elections breakthrough was not a one-off.The anti-EU party is on course to show that last year's local elections breakthrough was not a one-off.
Labour is struggling to make progress and the Tory vote, which has been hit most by UKIP, is falling back.Labour is struggling to make progress and the Tory vote, which has been hit most by UKIP, is falling back.
The Lib Dems' vote share has been hit hardest but most results in 161 English councils are still to come. Euro election results are due on Sunday.The Lib Dems' vote share has been hit hardest but most results in 161 English councils are still to come. Euro election results are due on Sunday.
Some 11 councils in Northern Ireland are also up for grabs.Some 11 councils in Northern Ireland are also up for grabs.
The surge in support for UKIP has sent shockwaves through the main parties at Westminster, with just a year to go before the next general election.The surge in support for UKIP has sent shockwaves through the main parties at Westminster, with just a year to go before the next general election.
Director of communications and European Parliament candidate Patrick O'Flynn said the party was looking to win upwards of 100 council seats. UKIP director of communications and European Parliament candidate Patrick O'Flynn said the party was looking to win upwards of 100 council seats.
"That would be terrific for us," he said. "I think we can do it.""That would be terrific for us," he said. "I think we can do it."
'Unforgivably unprofessional''Unforgivably unprofessional'
The success of UKIP in Essex cost Labour control of Thurrock council.The success of UKIP in Essex cost Labour control of Thurrock council.
And in the Labour heartland of Rotherham UKIP took 10 of the 21 seats being contested. And in the Labour heartland of Rotherham, UKIP took 10 of the 21 seats being contested.
Labour MP Graham Stringer - a longstanding critic of Ed Miliband - said it was now clear his party was not going to do as well as it expected.Labour MP Graham Stringer - a longstanding critic of Ed Miliband - said it was now clear his party was not going to do as well as it expected.
The Blackley and Broughton MP launched an attack on Mr Miliband's campaign calling it "unforgivably unprofessional".The Blackley and Broughton MP launched an attack on Mr Miliband's campaign calling it "unforgivably unprofessional".
He told the BBC: "We have not done as well as we should have done in both the presentation of our policies and the organisation of the campaign.He told the BBC: "We have not done as well as we should have done in both the presentation of our policies and the organisation of the campaign.
"The centrepiece of our campaign has been the cost of living and Ed didn't know his own cost of living, he didn't know how much he was spending on shopping."
Mr Stringer, who wants an in/out EU vote, said the referendum was a "real trust issue", even if it was not the first subject raised on the doorstep.
Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna rejected the criticisms, but said it was now clear the UK was in an "era of four-party politics".Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna rejected the criticisms, but said it was now clear the UK was in an "era of four-party politics".
Some Conservative backbenchers have called for an electoral pact with UKIP going into the general election, with Jacob-Rees-Mogg warning UKIP could split the "small c Conservative vote" and let Labour in.Some Conservative backbenchers have called for an electoral pact with UKIP going into the general election, with Jacob-Rees-Mogg warning UKIP could split the "small c Conservative vote" and let Labour in.
Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps rejected a formal deal between the two parties, saying there was "no question of a pact per se".Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps rejected a formal deal between the two parties, saying there was "no question of a pact per se".
UKIP's chairman Steve Crowther also poured cold water on the suggestion. The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said overnight UKIP had emerged as a "fourth national political force capable of disrupting the hopes and plans of each of the established three parties".
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said that while the Tory, Labour and Lib Dem leaders were not under threat, the MPs expressing discontent were merely saying in public what others were saying in private. "[But it] is worth remembering that once every vote is counted UKIP will not run a single council, they will still have far fewer councillors than their rivals, they will not, of course, have an MP but - in the words of one Labour council leader - they will have caused mayhem."
"Each of the leaders can feel secure personally," he said. The Lib Dems were enduring another bad night at the polls, although there were signs of them holding on in areas where they have MPs.
"Yet their strategy is under challenge as never before as people look over their shoulder and have a wee panic." The party lost control of Portsmouth City Council where suspended MP Mike Hancock - standing as an independent but unopposed by the Lib Dems - lost his seat after 43 years as a councillor.
'Humanity'
As senior figures in the party predicted, it is looking like another bad night for the Liberal Democrats, with support down 16% on its 2010 performance.
It lost control of Portsmouth City Council where suspended MP Mike Hancock - standing as an independent but unopposed by the Lib Dems - lost his seat after 43 years as a councillor.
Business Secretary Vince Cable admitted it was going to be a bad night but told Sky News supporters would be "pleasantly surprised" in areas where the party is well-organised.
But Lib Dem minister Lynne Featherstone said being in government had cost the party some its "humanity".
"The reason UKIP has had such amazing success is... they have managed to sound like human beings," she said.
Labour - which is targeting the battleground seats it needs to win Westminster next year - is down 10% on 2012 so far and has failed to take targets such as Tamworth and Swindon. The party is hoping to do better in London, where many councils have yet to start counting.
Expectations
In contrast to most of the rest of England, where a third of seats on local councils were up for grabs, every seat in all 32 London boroughs was being contested on Thursday, raising the prospect of a dramatic redrawing of the capital's political map.
A Labour source told the BBC its results in the capital look strong - especially in Croydon and Tower Hamlets.
If the party has a good night, it will also take Barnet and Hammersmith and Fulham from the Conservatives.
Election experts Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher believe Labour will gain between 490 and 500 council seats - but party sources were playing down expectations, suggesting 150 to 200 gains would represent a good night.
Rallings and Thrasher predicted the Conservatives would lose about 200 seats, which looks like an under-estimate on the results that have come in so far.
The Green Party, which is hoping to double its tally of MEPs to four, is performing moderately well with an average 9% share of the vote in wards where it is standing.The Green Party, which is hoping to double its tally of MEPs to four, is performing moderately well with an average 9% share of the vote in wards where it is standing.
But this is significantly down on the party's 13% showing in 2009.But this is significantly down on the party's 13% showing in 2009.
Mayoral elections took place in the London boroughs of Hackney, Lewisham, Newham - all with Labour incumbents seeking their fourth consecutive term - and in Tower Hamlets, where controversial independent mayor Lutfur Rahman was battling to retain power. Lib Dem Dorothy Thornhill was fighting to remain mayor of Watford. Mayoral elections took place in four London boroughs and Watford.
In Northern Ireland, voters were electing 462 representatives to 11 so-called "super districts" following a reorganisation that took place in 2012, reducing the number of councils from 26 previously.In Northern Ireland, voters were electing 462 representatives to 11 so-called "super districts" following a reorganisation that took place in 2012, reducing the number of councils from 26 previously.
There were no local elections in either Scotland or Wales.There were no local elections in either Scotland or Wales.