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Election results pour in from across UK Labour bruised but retains key councils
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn is not, so far, facing losses on the scale some had predicted in English local elections, with Labour retaining key councils.Jeremy Corbyn is not, so far, facing losses on the scale some had predicted in English local elections, with Labour retaining key councils.
The party is fighting to retain second place in Scotland, ahead of the Tories, with the SNP heading for victory. But the party could finish third in Scotland amid a Tory revival, with the SNP heading for overall victory.
The Lib Dems have gained ground in Scotland -and UKIP is having a good night in English local polls and is hoping to gain seats in Wales. The Lib Dems have gained ground in Scotland - UKIP is having a good night in English local polls and is hoping to gain seats in Wales.
The London Mayoral result will not be declared until late Friday.The London Mayoral result will not be declared until late Friday.
Labour MP John Mann - one of Jeremy Corbyn's biggest critics - conceded that the party was "doing OK" but he said it should be winning by a landslide against a feuding and weakened Conservative Party. Labour MP John Mann - one of Jeremy Corbyn's internal biggest critics - conceded that the party was "doing OK" but he said it should be winning by a landslide against a feuding and weakened Conservative Party.
BBC analysis suggests the Tory vote is down in Southern England, which may have helped Labour to retain control of councils in areas such as Crawley, Southampton, Norwich and Hastings, where its vote was looking vulnerable. BBC analysis suggests the Tory vote is down in southern England, which may have helped Labour to retain control of councils in areas such as Crawley, Southampton, Norwich and Hastings, where its vote was looking vulnerable.
Labour's vote share is down about 6% on average on 2012 - the last time the seats in England were contested - but BBC analysis suggests its share is up slightly on the general election in key wards. Labour's vote share is down about 6% on average on 2012 - the last time the seats in England were contested - but it BBC analysis suggests its share is up slightly on the general election in key wards.
It is a different story in Scotland, where the party's share is down 11%.It is a different story in Scotland, where the party's share is down 11%.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is expected to lead her party to a third successive term in office. The Conservatives have won the Holyrood seat of Eastwood from Labour. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is expected to lead her party to a third successive term in office although BBC analysis suggests that with more than half of seats declared, its share of the vote is simply holding steady with what it achieved in 2011.
In other developments:
The Conservatives have won the Holyrood seat of Eastwood from Labour and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson won Edinburgh Central from the SNP, taking the Tories to five constituency seats, their strongest showing for some time.
The Lib Dems held Orkney and Shetland and took Fife North East from the SNP. The SNP took Rutherglen from Labour.The Lib Dems held Orkney and Shetland and took Fife North East from the SNP. The SNP took Rutherglen from Labour.
'Knife edge' In Wales, Labour's vote is down by eight points overall, the Conservative vote is down by three points, while Plaid Cymru is up by two points. At 15%, UKIP is maintaining the level that the party achieved in 2015 which should be enough to enable the party to win its first assembly seats.
Other elections include the high-profile London mayoral contest as well as other mayoral races in Bristol, Liverpool and Salford. The London result is not expected until Friday evening. Labour has held the Westminster seat of Sheffield Brightside in a by-election, on a 5.8% swing from the Conservatives, with UKIP coming second. The party also held Ogmore in another Parliamentary by-election, in South Wales, with UKIP again in second place.
Labour is fighting to retain control of the Welsh Assembly and UKIP is hoping to gain its first seats. Responding to claims Labour is not doing as well as it should be, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC: "We are laying the foundations for a four-year programme."
Labour has held the Westminster seat of Sheffield Brightside in a by-election, on a 5.8% swing from the Conservatives, with UKIP coming second. The party also held Ogmore in another Parliamentary by-election, in South Wales.
Police and crime commissioners are also being elected in England and Wales.
Analysis
By BBC Deputy Political Editor John Pienaar
The English local council seats up for grabs were won at the height of Labour's popularity under Ed Miliband - though that's not saying a great deal. Now, losses look inevitable, and a pantheon of psephologists predict 150, 190, more?
Mr Corbyn's Labour enemies have set the bar for respectability impossibly high.
Four hundred gains are the minimum to show progress, according to the likes of defeated leadership contender Liz Kendall, and given the fact Labour's trailing the Conservatives in the national polls, she might as well have demanded 400,000.
If Labour comes third in Scotland - though that's not thought very likely - or loses in London - something almost no-one expects to happen, the hair-rending and teeth-gnashing will be so frenzied as to leave the entire Labour Party, Corbynistas and anti-Corbynistas alike, bald and toothless.
As it is, we can expect a cacophonous set of rival choruses. Those loyal to the leader blaming the disloyalty of dissident MPs for vote-sapping disunity. And those who want the leader gone blaming him; demanding a change of direction and some a change of leader.
Read John's full analysis
UKIP leader Nigel Farage told the BBC his party was "now eating into the old Labour vote" in England and predicted advances in Wales and Northern Ireland - while adding: "In Scotland, it's pretty knife-edge."
But Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC: "We are laying the foundations for a four-year programme."
"If you compare, from when Jeremy took over to now, we are on a clear path of improvement. That's exactly what our strategy is all about.""If you compare, from when Jeremy took over to now, we are on a clear path of improvement. That's exactly what our strategy is all about."
He said in Scotland the picture was "complex" and Labour was "at the early stages" of rebuilding support having been "wiped out" in 2015.He said in Scotland the picture was "complex" and Labour was "at the early stages" of rebuilding support having been "wiped out" in 2015.
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham is considering standing to become mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, it has emerged.Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham is considering standing to become mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, it has emerged.
For the Conservatives, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan predicted the London mayoral race would be a "close result" but said the local elections would be a test of "whether the Labour Party is in touch with working people across the country".For the Conservatives, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan predicted the London mayoral race would be a "close result" but said the local elections would be a test of "whether the Labour Party is in touch with working people across the country".
BBC Newsnight's political editor Nick Watt has been leaked a copy of the lines Labour MPs have been told to take as the results come out to explain any losses.BBC Newsnight's political editor Nick Watt has been leaked a copy of the lines Labour MPs have been told to take as the results come out to explain any losses.
In total, 2,747 seats in English councils - spanning metropolitan boroughs, unitary authorities and district councils - were up for grabs. The majority of the seats were last contested in 2012.In total, 2,747 seats in English councils - spanning metropolitan boroughs, unitary authorities and district councils - were up for grabs. The majority of the seats were last contested in 2012.
Thursday's polls are the single largest test of political opinion before the next general election, which is scheduled for 2020, with 43 million people entitled to take part.Thursday's polls are the single largest test of political opinion before the next general election, which is scheduled for 2020, with 43 million people entitled to take part.
What to expect when (all timings are estimates)What to expect when (all timings are estimates)
Friday 6 MayFriday 6 May
Around 80 English local election results expected overnightAround 80 English local election results expected overnight
Scottish Parliament - results in all 129 seats expected overnightScottish Parliament - results in all 129 seats expected overnight
Welsh Assembly - results in all 60 seats expected overnightWelsh Assembly - results in all 60 seats expected overnight
Liverpool mayoral result also expected overnight.Liverpool mayoral result also expected overnight.
11:30 First results from around 50 councils in England to declare on Friday11:30 First results from around 50 councils in England to declare on Friday
15:00 First results of London Assembly elections15:00 First results of London Assembly elections
17:00 First preference vote share information for elections to Northern Ireland Assembly17:00 First preference vote share information for elections to Northern Ireland Assembly
1800 Result of first preference votes for Mayor of London (final result expected early evening)1800 Result of first preference votes for Mayor of London (final result expected early evening)
Results of Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Salford mayoral contest are also expected on Friday.Results of Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Salford mayoral contest are also expected on Friday.
Saturday 7 MaySaturday 7 May
14:00 Results from five remaining councils in England14:00 Results from five remaining councils in England
16:00 Result of Bristol Mayoral contest16:00 Result of Bristol Mayoral contest
Result of elections to Northern Ireland Assembly expectedResult of elections to Northern Ireland Assembly expected
Sunday 8 MaySunday 8 May
16:00 Result of elections to Bristol Council (final council in England to declare)16:00 Result of elections to Bristol Council (final council in England to declare)
Results of Police and Crime Commissioner elections in WalesResults of Police and Crime Commissioner elections in Wales