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Labour worries on council losses Labour suffers in Welsh heartland
(about 1 hour later)
Labour fears it may have lost control of two Welsh councils. Labour has lost control of Merthyr and fears it may also be out of office in three other Welsh councils.
With counting under way at most of the 22 county councils, Labour suggested it may have lost majorities in Blaenau Gwent and Newport. Labour suggested it may have also lost majorities in Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Flintshire, which would be a big blow to the party.
Defeat in both areas would be a major blow to Labour in what has been the party's south Wales heartland. But Plaid Cymru also took punishment, and could lose control of Gwynedd.
First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan said the tide was "turning strongly" against his party, but it was important not to panic.
"If Labour voters are disaffected they are not going to come out and we are going to lose seats," said Mr Morgan.
Mid-term is a difficult place to be Justice Minister David Hanson MP
It has emerged the Labour majority in Blaenau Gwent shrank before the election to about eight after some councillors defected to other groups.It has emerged the Labour majority in Blaenau Gwent shrank before the election to about eight after some councillors defected to other groups.
If Labour voters are disaffected they are not going to come out and we are going to lose seats First Minister Rhodri Morgan
As results started to come in, Welsh Labour leader and assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan told Sky News it was "important not to panic".
Mr Morgan said the tide was "turning strongly" against Labour, adding: "If Labour voters are disaffected they are not going to come out and we are going to lose seats".
Justice Minister David Hanson said Labour was facing a "difficult night" in Flintshire.Justice Minister David Hanson said Labour was facing a "difficult night" in Flintshire.
WHO RAN WELSH COUNCILS FROM 2004 - 2008 Blaenau Gwent: LabourBridgend: Liberal Democrat / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / IndependentCaerphilly: LabourCardiff: Liberal DemocratCarmarthen: Labour / IndependentCeredigion: Independent / Liberal Democrat / LabourConwy: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Liberal DemocratDenbighshire: Independent / Conservative / Plaid CymruFlintshire: LabourGwynedd: Plaid CymruMerthyr: Labour / IndependentMonmouth: ConservativeNeath Port Talbot: LabourNewport: LabourPembrokeshire: IndependentPowys: IndependentRhondda Cynon Taf: LabourSwansea: Liberal Democrat / IndependentTorfaen: LabourVale of Glamorgan: Labour / Plaid Cymru / IndependentWrexham: Liberal Democrat-led BoardYnys Mon: Anglesey Forward / Radical Independents Mr Hanson told BBC Wales: "These things happen - politics go up, politics go down. We are going to lose some seats, we have lost some seats, we are going to lose some more.
He told BBC Wales: "These things happen - politics go up, politics go down. We are going to lose some seats, we have lost some seats, we are going to lose some more.
"Mid-term is a difficult place to be. The 10p tax issue is a difficult issue. I think all of us have seen results from that in ways we didn't expect.""Mid-term is a difficult place to be. The 10p tax issue is a difficult issue. I think all of us have seen results from that in ways we didn't expect."
WHO RAN WELSH COUNCILS FROM 2004 - 2008 Blaenau Gwent: LabourBridgend: Liberal Democrat / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / IndependentCaerphilly: LabourCardiff: Liberal DemocratCarmarthen: Labour / IndependentCeredigion: Independent / Liberal Democrat / LabourConwy: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Liberal DemocratDenbighshire: Independent / Conservative / Plaid CymruFlintshire: LabourGwynedd: Plaid CymruMerthyr: Labour / IndependentMonmouth: ConservativeNeath Port Talbot: LabourNewport: LabourPembrokeshire: IndependentPowys: IndependentRhondda Cynon Taf: LabourSwansea: Liberal Democrat / IndependentTorfaen: LabourVale of Glamorgan: Labour / Plaid Cymru / IndependentWrexham: Liberal Democrat-led BoardYnys Mon: Anglesey Forward / Radical Independents
Conservative Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said Tories were hoping to match gains made in England in Wales.Conservative Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said Tories were hoping to match gains made in England in Wales.
She said the Conservatives were "building bit by bit in Wales", adding: "On the doorstep it was obvious that there was real pain out there."She said the Conservatives were "building bit by bit in Wales", adding: "On the doorstep it was obvious that there was real pain out there."
Elsewhere, in an early result on Anglesey, prominent independent John Arthur Jones lost his Cyngar seat to Plaid Cymru by 200 votes, and independent John Meirion Davies, holder of the education portfolio on Anglesey, lost to the Liberal Democrats.Elsewhere, in an early result on Anglesey, prominent independent John Arthur Jones lost his Cyngar seat to Plaid Cymru by 200 votes, and independent John Meirion Davies, holder of the education portfolio on Anglesey, lost to the Liberal Democrats.
In Swansea Labour hoped to regain control from a Lib Dem-led administration. With more than 50 seats out of 72 declared so far, Labour had a net loss of two, the Lib Dems a net loss of one, the Tories a net gain of one.In Swansea Labour hoped to regain control from a Lib Dem-led administration. With more than 50 seats out of 72 declared so far, Labour had a net loss of two, the Lib Dems a net loss of one, the Tories a net gain of one.
There will be two crucial recounts in Swansea on Friday morning in Cockett and Sketty, and results suggested the Lib Dems could still form a new coalition with the independents.There will be two crucial recounts in Swansea on Friday morning in Cockett and Sketty, and results suggested the Lib Dems could still form a new coalition with the independents.
Early reports of turnout suggested that it was low in Wrexham, with Liberal Democrats reports that it was "very patchy", and as low as 20% in some areas, and about 40% in others.Early reports of turnout suggested that it was low in Wrexham, with Liberal Democrats reports that it was "very patchy", and as low as 20% in some areas, and about 40% in others.
It's been an evening of kicking Plaid and, interestingly, an evening of kicking the incumbent councillors as well Elfyn Llwyd MP, Plaid Cymru, on the early Gwynedd resultsIt's been an evening of kicking Plaid and, interestingly, an evening of kicking the incumbent councillors as well Elfyn Llwyd MP, Plaid Cymru, on the early Gwynedd results
However, in Gwynedd turnout was said to be quite high, with 60% of postal votes returned in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and 50% in Chwilog.However, in Gwynedd turnout was said to be quite high, with 60% of postal votes returned in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and 50% in Chwilog.
Plaid Cymru hopes to retain control of Gwynedd, but the party lost the Brithdir and Llanfachreth ward in Gwynedd to Llais Gwynedd, the protest group set up to halt school reorganisation. Llais Gwynedd also had another councillor elected unopposed.Plaid Cymru hopes to retain control of Gwynedd, but the party lost the Brithdir and Llanfachreth ward in Gwynedd to Llais Gwynedd, the protest group set up to halt school reorganisation. Llais Gwynedd also had another councillor elected unopposed.
Plaid MP Elfyn Llwyd MP said of the Gwynedd results: "It's not been good but it's not been a disaster.Plaid MP Elfyn Llwyd MP said of the Gwynedd results: "It's not been good but it's not been a disaster.
"It's been an evening of kicking Plaid and, interestingly, an evening of kicking the incumbent councillors as well.""It's been an evening of kicking Plaid and, interestingly, an evening of kicking the incumbent councillors as well."
Plaid MP Adam Price admitted that Gwynedd was "looking pretty grim" and did not expect his party to retain the only council it controlled.
Most councils started counting when polls closed, but others will leave it until Friday morning. That means that a full picture will not emerge until Friday afternoon.Most councils started counting when polls closed, but others will leave it until Friday morning. That means that a full picture will not emerge until Friday afternoon.
Some authorities, such as Cardiff, are publishing the results ward-by-ward online.
BBC Wales election coverage:
BBC Wales election coverage:
Web: The BBC Wales News website - bbc.co.uk/walesnews - will provide continually updated coverage throughout Thursday and on Friday.Web: The BBC Wales News website - bbc.co.uk/walesnews - will provide continually updated coverage throughout Thursday and on Friday.
Radio: Radio Wales and Radio Cymru: Results programmes to 0300 BST on Friday. Also on Radio 5 Live to 0500 BST and Radio Four to 0300 BST.Radio: Radio Wales and Radio Cymru: Results programmes to 0300 BST on Friday. Also on Radio 5 Live to 0500 BST and Radio Four to 0300 BST.
TV: Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters will provide regular updates from Wales on Election Night 2008 to 0600 BST on BBC One Wales and the BBC News channel.TV: Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters will provide regular updates from Wales on Election Night 2008 to 0600 BST on BBC One Wales and the BBC News channel.