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Local and mayoral elections: Conservatives make early gains Local and mayoral elections: Conservatives make early gains
(35 minutes later)
The Conservatives have gained control of Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Isle of Wight and Gloucestershire as votes are counted in local and mayoral elections. The Conservatives have gained control of five councils and Labour have lost two in the first sets of results from local and mayoral elections.
The party has also retained control of Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Dorset while UKIP has suffered heavy losses so far. Among Tory gains is Lincolnshire, where UKIP lost all of its seats in what one senior UKIP politician described as a "very disappointing" result.
Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil. Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent and Bridgend.
A senior Lib Dem said their results had been "patchy" and they are out of the mayoral race in the West of England.
Many authorities, including all those in Scotland, will not begin counting until Friday morning.Many authorities, including all those in Scotland, will not begin counting until Friday morning.
A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs in 88 councils - all of those in Scotland and Wales and 34 in England - five weeks before the general election. A total of 4,851 council seats were up for grabs in 88 councils - all of those in Scotland and Wales and 34 in England - five weeks before the general election.
At 0455 BST, across the 18 English and Welsh counties that have fully declared results, the Tories had control of nine authorities and 510 seats, a net gain of 129. Labour had control of two authorities and 313 seats, a net loss of 109. The Lib Dems won 130 seats, a net loss of 16 while UKIP had failed to win any seats, a net loss of 41. Election day: Latest updates
At 05:30 BST, across the 19 English and Welsh counties that have fully declared results, the Tories had control of 10 authorities and 517 seats, a net gain of 132. Labour had control of two authorities and 329 seats, a net loss of 117. The Lib Dems won 130 seats, a net loss of 21 while UKIP had failed to win any seats, a net loss of 41.
Ros Jones, the Labour mayor of Doncaster, has been re-elected after getting just over 50% of votes. She told the BBC the election had been about "local issues" and her result was an acknowledgement of the work her team had done over the last four years.Ros Jones, the Labour mayor of Doncaster, has been re-elected after getting just over 50% of votes. She told the BBC the election had been about "local issues" and her result was an acknowledgement of the work her team had done over the last four years.
Counting continues in some councils in Wales and England and in the West of England "metro mayor" election, in which the Conservative and Labour candidates will go through to the second round.Counting continues in some councils in Wales and England and in the West of England "metro mayor" election, in which the Conservative and Labour candidates will go through to the second round.
Election day: Latest updates Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, the Isle of Wight and Monmouthshire gained by the Conservatives, had all been under no overall control. In Lincolnshire, where UKIP had 16 councillors elected in 2013, the party has lost all of its remaining seats. Former UKIP leadership contender Lisa Duffy described that as "very disappointing" adding: "We knew it was going to be a difficult night."
Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire, gained by the Conservatives, had been under no overall control. In Lincolnshire, where UKIP had 16 councillors elected in 2013, the party has lost all of its remaining seats. Former UKIP leadership contender Lisa Duffy described that as "very disappointing" adding: "We knew it was going to be a difficult night." Professor John Curtice has said that, on early declarations in England, there had been a substantial swing from Labour to the Conservatives while the UKIP vote appeared to be collapsing heavily. Lib Dem president Sal Brinton described her party's performance as "patchy".
Professor John Curtice has said that, on early declarations in England, there had been a substantial swing from Labour to the Conservatives while the UKIP vote appeared to be collapsing heavily and the Lib Dem performance was "very patchy".
Labour has lost control of two of its Welsh heartlands seats, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil. Merthyr Tydfil's Labour leader Brendan Toomey was among those to lose his seat.
'Very disappointing''Very disappointing'
He told BBC Radio 4: "It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least. Labour has lost control of its Welsh heartland seat Blaenau Gwent to independents and the results in Merthyr Tydfil is on a knife edge as the final three seats will not be declared until 8 June and Labour would have to win them all to retain a majority.
"It is quite clear that huge numbers of the public aren't entirely happy, to say the least, with the way the Labour Party is going at the moment. There's no doubt about that. But I would say it goes a lot deeper than that." Merthyr Tydfil's Labour leader Brendan Toomey was among those to lose his seat.
Analysis: Local results shine light on election He told BBC Radio 4: "It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least."
By BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg Analysis: Where the parties stand... so far
These elections are a complicated set of local contests, some old, some new, some electing an individual to a position of great power, most, individual races in wards that make up only a few streets, for councillors who then group together to run our towns and cities. By Chris Mason
So as the results come in, what are we looking for? If the final result to be declared in these local elections, much, much later today, is the summit of the electoral mountain, this morning we are barely above sea level.
First, these are important elections in their own right, and the results make a big difference to decisions that are made on our behalves all round the country. Flip flops on, we are still on the beach.
Local authorities have significant powers over education, planning, local business rates for example, and the drift of government policy has been to give them more, not less. But for those of us up all night to witness the nocturnal arithmetic, clear trends began to emerge very quickly.
Second, while you will hear my colleagues and me caution dozens of times in the next 24 hours that the results do not translate directly to the general election, they are a really significant barometer. The Conservatives up.
Pay attention, therefore, to how the Conservative and Labour fight shapes up in areas like Nottinghamshire, or Derbyshire. Labour and UKIP down.
Big Tory inroads will be a real worry for Labour as we hurtle towards the general election. The Liberal Democrats patchy.
Read more from Laura here. Read more from Chris
Wrexham and Flintshire councils have remained under no overall control while the Conservatives saw off a challenge from the Lib Dems to hold on to Somerset County Council - although leader John Osman was ousted by Lib Dem former MP Tessa Munt.Wrexham and Flintshire councils have remained under no overall control while the Conservatives saw off a challenge from the Lib Dems to hold on to Somerset County Council - although leader John Osman was ousted by Lib Dem former MP Tessa Munt.
Among battles to watch out for on Friday are the SNP's attempt to seize control from Labour in Glasgow - and the Conservatives' bid to take back overall control of Norfolk County Council.Among battles to watch out for on Friday are the SNP's attempt to seize control from Labour in Glasgow - and the Conservatives' bid to take back overall control of Norfolk County Council.
For the first time, voters in Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City region, the West Midlands, Tees Valley, the West of England, and Cambridge and Peterborough will elect "metro mayors" covering combined local authority areas.For the first time, voters in Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City region, the West Midlands, Tees Valley, the West of England, and Cambridge and Peterborough will elect "metro mayors" covering combined local authority areas.
The mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development, but some will have powers over transport and housing.The mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development, but some will have powers over transport and housing.
Former Labour cabinet minister Andy Burnham, who is stepping down as an MP, hopes to become Greater Manchester's first elected mayor while in the West Midlands, former John Lewis boss Andy Street is running for the Conservatives while Sion Simon hopes to secure the role for Labour.Former Labour cabinet minister Andy Burnham, who is stepping down as an MP, hopes to become Greater Manchester's first elected mayor while in the West Midlands, former John Lewis boss Andy Street is running for the Conservatives while Sion Simon hopes to secure the role for Labour.
This is a year of county council elections in England (34 councils, 2,370 seats). There were also polls in six unitary authorities where county councils and district councils have merged.This is a year of county council elections in England (34 councils, 2,370 seats). There were also polls in six unitary authorities where county councils and district councils have merged.
In Scotland, all 32 councils (1,227 seats) and all 22 councils in Wales (1,254 seats) were being contested.In Scotland, all 32 councils (1,227 seats) and all 22 councils in Wales (1,254 seats) were being contested.
In Doncaster and North Tyneside, residents voted for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils.In Doncaster and North Tyneside, residents voted for local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils.