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Early results as counting continues across UK Early results as counting continues across UK
(35 minutes later)
Early results are being declared in local elections in England and Scotland, as counts continue across the UK. Results are being declared in local elections in England and the Scottish Parliament with Wales to come later.
English council polls suggest Labour's vote is up on 2015 but down on 2012 when these seats were last contested. BBC analysis of key wards in England suggests Labour's vote is down eight points on 2012 when they were last contested but up three points on last year.
The Tories are down on 2015 but doing better than in 2012, the Lib Dems are recovering slightly and UKIP is holding on to the vote share it won last year. The Tories are holding their 2012 vote share but down on 2015.
Results are due in overnight for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. The Lib Dems are recovering slightly and UKIP are holding on to the vote share they won at the general election.
In Scotland, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is expected to lead her party to a third successive term in office, and there has been speculation that the Conservatives could push Labour into third place. In Scotland, 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, although their vote share has not increased by enough to push Labour into third place if it was repeated across Scotland.
In the first Holyrood results, the Lib Dems held Orkney, with Liam McArthur returned as the MSP for the island constituency while the SNP took Rutherglen from Labour. The Lib Dems held Orkney and Shetland, while the SNP took Rutherglen from Labour.
Amid speculation that Labour could lose all of its constituency seats in Glasgow, SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said: "The early indications here in Glasgow are that we are doing very, very well indeed."Amid speculation that Labour could lose all of its constituency seats in Glasgow, SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said: "The early indications here in Glasgow are that we are doing very, very well indeed."
'Knife edge'
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.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.
UK Parliamentary by-elections are also being held in Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside, while police and crime commissioners are being elected in England and Wales. Labour is fighting to retain control of the Welsh Assembly as UKIP hopes to gain its first seats.
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." 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 result in another Parliamentary by-election, Ogmore, is due imminently.
But Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC: "We are laying the foundations for a four-year programme." Police and crime commissioners are also being elected in England and Wales.
"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.
Labour held Nuneaton and Bedworth - one of the areas it failed to make the gains it needed to in last year's general election, but lost three wards, with the Conservatives gaining three.
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham is considering standing to become mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, it has emerged.
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC Deputy Political Editor John PienaarBy 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?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.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.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.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.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 analysisRead 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."
He said in Scotland the picture was "complex" and Labour was "at the early stages" of rebuilding support having been "wiped out" in 2015.
Labour held Nuneaton and Bedworth - one of the areas it failed to make the gains it needed to in last year's general election, but lost three wards, with the Conservatives gaining three.
With 60 of the BBC's key wards declared, polling expert Prof John Curtice said it looked as though Labour will be able to claim some progress compared with last year but will both suffer losses compared with 2012, the first local elections under Ed Milliband's leadership.
He said it would not necessarily be a good night for the Conservatives - and any gain in seats tells us more about Labour's loss of support than any necessary increase in Conservative votes.
It looks as though the Lib Dems will be able to claim some recovery from the position in 2015, as compared with then their vote is up by three points on average in the BBC's key wards.
However the 2015 results were the Lib Dems' worst set of elections in recent electoral history and compared with both 2011 and 2012 the party's vote is down on average by three points.
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
00:30 First results from councils in England - around 80 results expected overnight Around 80 English local election results expected overnight
01:30 First results from Scottish Parliament - results in all 129 seats expected overnight Scottish Parliament - results in all 129 seats expected overnight
02:15 First results from Welsh Assembly - results in all 60 seats expected overnight Welsh 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