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Early local election results suggest UKIP gains UKIP gaining seats from Tories and Labour in English elections
(35 minutes later)
Early indications suggest UKIP is on course to make big further big gains in town halls across England. UKIP is gaining council seats across England at the expense of both the Conservatives and Labour.
The party is picking up council seats and is seeing a surge in its share of the vote, at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives. The anti-EU party is on course to show that last year's breakthrough in town halls was not a one-off.
The election is the biggest test of public opinion before next year's general election. Labour is struggling to make progress and the Tory vote is falling back.
The Lib Dems are braced for a difficult night as results come in from 161 councils in England. But the Lib Dems are suffering the heaviest losses in the results declared so far from the elections held in 161 English councils - 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 apparent surge in support for UKIP, which comes on top of big gains at last year's local elections, has sent shockwaves through the main parties at Westminster. The surge in support for UKIP, which comes on top of big gains at last year's local elections, has sent shockwaves through the main parties at Westminster.
'Unforgivably unprofessional''Unforgivably unprofessional'
Labour MP Graham Stringer, who wants an in/out EU referendum, said it was now clear his party was not going to do as well as it expected in the European and local elections, with UKIP eating into its vote in traditional Labour heartlands.Labour MP Graham Stringer, who wants an in/out EU referendum, said it was now clear his party was not going to do as well as it expected in the European and local elections, with UKIP eating into its vote in traditional Labour heartlands.
The Blakeley and Broughton MP launched an attack on his own party's local and European campaign calling it "unforgivably unprofessional". The Blakeley and Broughton MP launched an attack on Ed 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".
He said: "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."He said: "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, a longstanding critic who wants an in/out EU referendum, said the referendum was a "real trust issue", even if it was not the first subject raised on the doorstep. Mr Stringer, a longstanding critic of Mr Miliband who wants an in/out EU referendum, 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.UKIP's chairman Steve Crowther also poured cold water on the suggestion.
From the few results in so far the anti-EU party is averaging 29% of the vote where they fielded candidates - 16 points up in the wards it last fought in 2012. 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.
'Out-of-touch elite' "Each of the leaders can feel secure personally," he said.
"Yet their strategy is under challenge as never before as people look over their shoulder and have a wee panic."
'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.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.
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.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.
Liberal Democrat MP Jeremy Browne - until late last year a Home Office minister - described UKIP's appeal as a "a big two fingers stuck up... to a hectoring out-of-touch elite". But Lib Dem minister Lynne Featherstone said being in government had cost the party some its "humanity".
He told the BBC's Question Time some its supporters "may be sexist and racist" but that other parties should "spend a little bit of time" understanding why it was attracting protest votes. "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 16% on 2010. Labour - which is targeting the battleground seats it needs to win Westminster next year - is down 10% on 2012 so far.
Ed Miliband's party is under pressure to show it can make gains outside of its northern heartlands - but is probably in the best position to make gains in London, where most results are not expected until after sunrise on Friday.
ExpectationsExpectations
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.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.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.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.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.
The Conservatives were defending 1,574 seats and 53 councils in England they currently control, including Trafford, Solihull, Milton Keynes, Croydon and Barnet.The Conservatives were defending 1,574 seats and 53 councils in England they currently control, including Trafford, Solihull, Milton Keynes, Croydon and Barnet.
Rallings and Thrasher believe David Cameron's party can expect to lose about 200 seats.Rallings and Thrasher believe David Cameron's party can expect to lose about 200 seats.
The Green Party overtook the Lib Dems in some opinion polls and is hoping to double its number of MEPs to four - it is also targeting areas where it has a strong activist base at the local elections such as Camden and Westminster.The Green Party overtook the Lib Dems in some opinion polls and is hoping to double its number of MEPs to four - it is also targeting areas where it has a strong activist base at the local elections such as Camden and Westminster.
Mayoral elections took place in the London boroughs 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 the London boroughs 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.
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.