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| Labour holds its ground in England but suffers bruising night in Scotland | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn has defied his harshest critics as Labour appeared to hold its ground in the English council elections, despite suffering a bruising night in Scotland and a setback in Wales. | |
| Related: UK elections 2016: Labour face being beaten into third place in Scotland – live updates | Related: UK elections 2016: Labour face being beaten into third place in Scotland – live updates |
| The party was on course for a woeful performance in Scotland, with experts suggesting it would come third behind the Conservatives. In Wales, Labour looks set to remain the largest party but will be forced into a running a minority administration by losing seats on the assembly, as Plaid Cymru and Ukip celebrated advances. | The party was on course for a woeful performance in Scotland, with experts suggesting it would come third behind the Conservatives. In Wales, Labour looks set to remain the largest party but will be forced into a running a minority administration by losing seats on the assembly, as Plaid Cymru and Ukip celebrated advances. |
| However, its share of the vote in English local elections was likely to be up on last year and it held a raft of key swing councils including Crawley, Harlow, Southampton, Nuneaton and Redditch. | However, its share of the vote in English local elections was likely to be up on last year and it held a raft of key swing councils including Crawley, Harlow, Southampton, Nuneaton and Redditch. |
| Allies of Corbyn are expected to seize on the party gaining a higher share of the national vote than in 2015 and the likely win for Sadiq Khan as London mayor as evidence Labour is making progress. | |
| Some critics had predicted the party would lose key bellwether councils in the south of England and hundreds of council seats in a result that would have put pressure on Corbyn’s leadership. However, the results showed Labour had lost only about 10 seats, with two-thirds of councils declared by 6am on Friday. | |
| The Conservatives showed little sign of progress, with their share of the vote likely to be down on last year in a possible sign their own loyal voters have been turned off by David Cameron’s enthusiastic endorsement of the remain campaign for the forthcoming EU referendum. | The Conservatives showed little sign of progress, with their share of the vote likely to be down on last year in a possible sign their own loyal voters have been turned off by David Cameron’s enthusiastic endorsement of the remain campaign for the forthcoming EU referendum. |
| Despite Labour not doing as badly as expected, some MPs were still critical of their party’s failure to make any real advances. | Despite Labour not doing as badly as expected, some MPs were still critical of their party’s failure to make any real advances. |
| Jo Cox, MP for Batley & Spen, said Corbyn must take responsibility for a “poor night”. “I think at this stage we should have been making far more advances than over the night we’ve seen. This is not a route back to power in 2020 for the Labour party so I think this has been an incredibly disappointing night,” she said. | Jo Cox, MP for Batley & Spen, said Corbyn must take responsibility for a “poor night”. “I think at this stage we should have been making far more advances than over the night we’ve seen. This is not a route back to power in 2020 for the Labour party so I think this has been an incredibly disappointing night,” she said. |
| “Jeremy and the leadership need to take responsibility for what’s been a poor night for us. I think we need some decisive leadership from Jeremy.” | “Jeremy and the leadership need to take responsibility for what’s been a poor night for us. I think we need some decisive leadership from Jeremy.” |
| Peter Hain, the Labour former cabinet minister, also said: “Frankly for us to be on course and confident of winning the next election we should be gaining seats … instead of losing them ... The trends this evening are patchy, but not showing the kind of momentum you would have expected.” | Peter Hain, the Labour former cabinet minister, also said: “Frankly for us to be on course and confident of winning the next election we should be gaining seats … instead of losing them ... The trends this evening are patchy, but not showing the kind of momentum you would have expected.” |
| Oppositions historically tend to pick up seats in mid-term local elections, and Corbyn’s critics have repeatedly said he should be aiming to gain several hundred local council seats. However, supporters of Corbyn’s leadership will point to the increased share of the vote on last year. | Oppositions historically tend to pick up seats in mid-term local elections, and Corbyn’s critics have repeatedly said he should be aiming to gain several hundred local council seats. However, supporters of Corbyn’s leadership will point to the increased share of the vote on last year. |
| The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, speaking after the polls closed at 10pm, said: “Labour has fought a strong campaign, working hard for every vote, standing up for working people who have been let down by the Tory party.” | The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, speaking after the polls closed at 10pm, said: “Labour has fought a strong campaign, working hard for every vote, standing up for working people who have been let down by the Tory party.” |
| He stressed that Labour’s key target was to cut the Conservatives’ lead in the national share of the vote. “If we can narrow that gap, we will demonstrate steady progress,” he said. “What we are looking to do is build over the next four years so that we steadily, steadily build our support and then we are ready for 2020.” | He stressed that Labour’s key target was to cut the Conservatives’ lead in the national share of the vote. “If we can narrow that gap, we will demonstrate steady progress,” he said. “What we are looking to do is build over the next four years so that we steadily, steadily build our support and then we are ready for 2020.” |
| Khan was widely expected to win the London mayoral race, after a bitter campaign in which the Conservative candidate, Zac Goldsmith, suggested he was a “radical”. | Khan was widely expected to win the London mayoral race, after a bitter campaign in which the Conservative candidate, Zac Goldsmith, suggested he was a “radical”. |
| The Labour leader had sought to distance himself from Corbyn during the campaign, including criticising his failure to “get a grip” on antisemitism. | The Labour leader had sought to distance himself from Corbyn during the campaign, including criticising his failure to “get a grip” on antisemitism. |
| But the shadow international development secretary, Diane Abbott, a key ally of Corbyn, told the Guardian that in the capital “more people have heard of Jeremy than have heard of Sadiq. In London, it’s all about Jeremy.” | But the shadow international development secretary, Diane Abbott, a key ally of Corbyn, told the Guardian that in the capital “more people have heard of Jeremy than have heard of Sadiq. In London, it’s all about Jeremy.” |
| In Scotland, Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader, suggested Labour could be driven into third place, and the SNP could even win a clean sweep in Glasgow, pushing Corbyn’s party out of what was once a traditional stronghold. | In Scotland, Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader, suggested Labour could be driven into third place, and the SNP could even win a clean sweep in Glasgow, pushing Corbyn’s party out of what was once a traditional stronghold. |
| With counting under way across Scotland, Scottish Labour sources were braced for a very difficult night and believe they have clear evidence that the open feuding over alleged antisemitism in the party in London has had a direct impact on its vote in Scotland. | With counting under way across Scotland, Scottish Labour sources were braced for a very difficult night and believe they have clear evidence that the open feuding over alleged antisemitism in the party in London has had a direct impact on its vote in Scotland. |
| In Wales, a poll carried out for ITV suggested Ukip had performed well, with the EU referendum campaign forcing the issue of immigration up the agenda. The party, which has poured resources into the battle in Wales, was projected to take up to eight of the 60 seats in the Welsh assembly. Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, described it as a “breakthrough night” for his party. | In Wales, a poll carried out for ITV suggested Ukip had performed well, with the EU referendum campaign forcing the issue of immigration up the agenda. The party, which has poured resources into the battle in Wales, was projected to take up to eight of the 60 seats in the Welsh assembly. Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, described it as a “breakthrough night” for his party. |
| There were signs even from among Corbyn’s core supporters on the Labour frontbench on Thursday night that there is growing disquiet about his style of leadership, and whether his team have the right skills to manage the party. | There were signs even from among Corbyn’s core supporters on the Labour frontbench on Thursday night that there is growing disquiet about his style of leadership, and whether his team have the right skills to manage the party. |
| The former Labour health secretary Andy Burnham confirmed during the evening that he was seriously considering standing as the mayor of greater Manchester when elections are held next year as a battery of new powers are devolved to the city as part of George Osborne’s “northern powerhouse”. | The former Labour health secretary Andy Burnham confirmed during the evening that he was seriously considering standing as the mayor of greater Manchester when elections are held next year as a battery of new powers are devolved to the city as part of George Osborne’s “northern powerhouse”. |
| Burnham’s allies insisted that he would remain in the shadow cabinet, and continue to serve Corbyn, for the time being, but the news will underline fears that Labour big beasts with governing experience could decide to leave Westminster rather than wait for the party to win back power. | Burnham’s allies insisted that he would remain in the shadow cabinet, and continue to serve Corbyn, for the time being, but the news will underline fears that Labour big beasts with governing experience could decide to leave Westminster rather than wait for the party to win back power. |
| There were also two byelections in safe Labour seats: Ogmore in Wales, where Huw Irranca-Davies stepped down to contest a Welsh assembly seat, and Sheffield Brightside, where the sitting MP, Harry Harpham, died earlier this year. Several other cities, including Salford, will elect mayors, and 41 police and crime commissioners will be selected. | There were also two byelections in safe Labour seats: Ogmore in Wales, where Huw Irranca-Davies stepped down to contest a Welsh assembly seat, and Sheffield Brightside, where the sitting MP, Harry Harpham, died earlier this year. Several other cities, including Salford, will elect mayors, and 41 police and crime commissioners will be selected. |
| Labour insiders will be picking over the results for evidence of whether Corbyn’s anti-austerity message is helping the party to make progress towards a general election victory in 2020. | Labour insiders will be picking over the results for evidence of whether Corbyn’s anti-austerity message is helping the party to make progress towards a general election victory in 2020. |
| The Scottish Tory leader, Ruth Davidson, confidently predicted her party will come second, and Scottish Labour’s leader, Kezia Dugdale, is facing the possible embarrassment of guiding her party to third place at a Holyrood election, putting Labour behind the Tories in Scotland for the first time in more than a century. That would immediately raise challenges to her continued leadership of the party and fuel further attacks on Corbyn’s leadership at UK level. | The Scottish Tory leader, Ruth Davidson, confidently predicted her party will come second, and Scottish Labour’s leader, Kezia Dugdale, is facing the possible embarrassment of guiding her party to third place at a Holyrood election, putting Labour behind the Tories in Scotland for the first time in more than a century. That would immediately raise challenges to her continued leadership of the party and fuel further attacks on Corbyn’s leadership at UK level. |
| Shadow ministerial sources said there was very little chance of a coup against Corbyn until after the EU referendum poll on 23 June, however. One said Dan Jarvis and Angela Eagle both appeared to be “organising hard” and people associated with them were having “hypothetical conversations” with MPs about support if they were to challenge Corbyn. | Shadow ministerial sources said there was very little chance of a coup against Corbyn until after the EU referendum poll on 23 June, however. One said Dan Jarvis and Angela Eagle both appeared to be “organising hard” and people associated with them were having “hypothetical conversations” with MPs about support if they were to challenge Corbyn. |