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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 five councils and Labour have lost two in the first sets of results from 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.
Among Tory gains is Lincolnshire, where UKIP lost all of its seats in what one senior UKIP politician described as a "very disappointing" result.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 and Bridgend.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. Lib Dem results have been patchy and the party failed to stop the Tories retaining control in Somerset.
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 were 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.
Election day: Latest updates At 06:00 BST, across the 20 English and Welsh counties that have fully declared results, the Tories had control of 10 authorities and 523 seats, a net gain of 138. Labour had control of two authorities and 349 seats, a net loss of 121. The Lib Dems won 132 seats, a net loss of 24 while UKIP had failed to win any seats, a net loss of 41.
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. Professor of Politics John Curtice said that the Conservatives had so far put in their best election performance since at least 2008 with an average swing of seven points from Labour to the Tories since 2013. He said the Conservatives appeared to have been the main beneficiaries of a sharp decline in support for UKIP.
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. The Conservative candidate for the new "metro mayor" post for the West of England, Tim Bowles, beat Labour's Lesley Mansell by 51.6% to 48.4%.
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. Lib Dem president Sal Brinton described her party's performance overall as "patchy".
Ros Jones, the Labour mayor of Doncaster, has been re-elected after getting just over 50% of votes.
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, 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."
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".
'Very disappointing''Very disappointing'
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.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.
Merthyr Tydfil's Labour leader Brendan Toomey was among those to lose his seat.Merthyr Tydfil's Labour leader Brendan Toomey was among those to lose his seat.
He told BBC Radio 4: "It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least."He told BBC Radio 4: "It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least."
Analysis: Where the parties stand... so farAnalysis: Where the parties stand... so far
By Chris MasonBy Chris Mason
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.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.
Flip flops on, we are still on the beach.Flip flops on, we are still on the beach.
But for those of us up all night to witness the nocturnal arithmetic, clear trends began to emerge very quickly.But for those of us up all night to witness the nocturnal arithmetic, clear trends began to emerge very quickly.
The Conservatives up.The Conservatives up.
Labour and UKIP down.Labour and UKIP down.
The Liberal Democrats patchy.The Liberal Democrats patchy.
Read more from ChrisRead 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.