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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 and Gloucestershire as votes are counted in local and mayoral elections.The Conservatives have gained control of Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire as votes are counted in local and mayoral elections.
The party has also retained control of Essex, Hampshire and Dorset while UKIP has suffered losses. The party has also retained control of Essex, Hampshire and Dorset while UKIP has suffered heavy losses so far.
Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil to independents.Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil to independents.
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 are up for grabs in 88 councils - all of those in Scotland and Wales and 34 in England five weeks before the general election.
Many authorities, including all those in Scotland, will not begin counting until Friday morning.
At 0320 BST, across the nine English and Welsh counties that have fully declared results, the Tories had control of six authorities and 300 seats, a net gain of 70. Labour had won 103 seats, a net loss of 36, the Lib Dems had won 75, a net loss of 14 while UKIP had failed to win any seats, a net loss of 20.
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 is under way in some councils in Wales and England and in the West of England "metro mayor" election. 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.
However, many authorities, including all those in Scotland, will not begin counting until Friday morning. Election day: Latest updates
Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire 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. Lincolnshire's Conservative council leader Martin Hill said he believed UKIP were now "struggling" after the EU referendum result while the prime minister had "quite remarkable" popularity. 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 and the Lib Dem performance was "very 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.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'
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.
"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.""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."
Wrexham and Flintshire councils have remained under no overall control.
Six new "metro mayors" will be elected in areas including the West Midlands and Greater Manchester although only one, the West of England, is counting overnight.
Results of the local and mayoral elections will be scanned closely for signs of how the major parties will fare at the general election on 8 June.
Among the battles to watch out for as the results come in 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.
The Liberal Democrats need to secure a 2% swing to take Somerset County Council back from the Conservatives - a potential test of their hopes for a revival in the South West of England on 8 June.
In the mayoral contests, 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.
It is unusual for local elections to be held so close to a Westminster election but analysts have cautioned against reading too much into them, as local factors will come into play.
Analysis: Local results shine light on electionAnalysis: Local results shine light on election
By BBC political editor Laura KuenssbergBy BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg
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.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.
So as the results come in, what are we looking for?So as the results come in, what are we looking for?
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
Pay attention, therefore, to how the Conservative and Labour fight shapes up in areas like Nottinghamshire, or Derbyshire.Pay attention, therefore, to how the Conservative and Labour fight shapes up in areas like Nottinghamshire, or Derbyshire.
Big Tory inroads will be a real worry for Labour as we hurtle towards the general election.Big Tory inroads will be a real worry for Labour as we hurtle towards the general election.
Read more from Laura here.Read more from Laura here.
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. 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.
In Scotland, all 32 councils (1,227 seats) and all 22 councils in Wales (1,254 seats) were being contested. 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.
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 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.
Campaigning in these elections has been overshadowed in recent weeks by Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to hold a snap general election a little over a month later.
What to expect when
Thursday 4 May
Some English and Welsh councils began counting ballots as soon as polls closed.
These include the West of England mayor and councils for the Isle of Wight, Warwickshire, Dorset, Flintshire, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent.
Friday 5 May
Other English and Welsh councils will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday.
Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts at about 09:00 BST, with first results expected from midday.
Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday.
The West Midlands and Greater Manchester mayors are expected to be announced in the evening.