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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Counting under way in local polls | Counting under way in local polls |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The polls have closed and counting is under way in the local elections in England and Wales. | The polls have closed and counting is under way in the local elections in England and Wales. |
| More than 4,000 seats on 159 councils are up for grabs, as well as the London mayoralty and assembly. | More than 4,000 seats on 159 councils are up for grabs, as well as the London mayoralty and assembly. |
| It is the first major test of voters' opinion since Gordon Brown became prime minister last year. | It is the first major test of voters' opinion since Gordon Brown became prime minister last year. |
| Most English councils will announce results overnight, with the first expected at 2330 BST. Results in Wales and London are due later on Friday. | Most English councils will announce results overnight, with the first expected at 2330 BST. Results in Wales and London are due later on Friday. |
| Tory targets | Tory targets |
| Several million people have voted, with 5.5 million eligible to do so in London alone. | Several million people have voted, with 5.5 million eligible to do so in London alone. |
| Most of the English local authorities are electing a third of members to serve for another four years. | Most of the English local authorities are electing a third of members to serve for another four years. |
| Labour insiders fear the party could shed up to 200 council seats amid widespread anger over the abolition of the 10p income tax rate and sniping at Mr Brown's leadership. | |
| Among the key battlegrounds, the party will be hoping to retain control of Reading and retake Sheffield from no overall control in a straight fight with the Liberal Democrats. | |
| The Conservatives will be looking to make several gains, such as taking control of Basingstoke, Worcester, Solihull, Thurrock, Maidstone and Rossendale. | |
| Other authorities the party is hopeful of winning include Barrow-in-Furness, Bury and Vale of Glamorgan. | Other authorities the party is hopeful of winning include Barrow-in-Furness, Bury and Vale of Glamorgan. |
| Pressure on Brown | |
| The Lib Dems are defending 750 seats, with the poll being the first major test of leader Nick Clegg, who was elected in December. | The Lib Dems are defending 750 seats, with the poll being the first major test of leader Nick Clegg, who was elected in December. |
| A poor poll showing could make life difficult for Mr Brown, with backbenchers increasingly concerned about their own prospects at the next general election. | |
| All seats are up for election in the 22 Welsh unitary authorities, where voters will have to wait until at least Friday lunchtime for their results. | All seats are up for election in the 22 Welsh unitary authorities, where voters will have to wait until at least Friday lunchtime for their results. |
| The London result, due on Friday evening, looks extremely close, following a gruelling contest between Conservative Boris Johnson and Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone. | |
| Their fate, along with that of Lib Dem contender Brian Paddick, will be widely seen as a test of their parties' national popularity ahead of the next general election, which has to be held by 2010. |