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Local elections: Tories profit from Ukip collapse amid Labour losses Local elections: Tories profit from Ukip collapse amid Labour losses
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservative party has made significant gains and Labour has suffered losses in local elections for England, Scotland Wales, with Ukip facing a near total wipeout of its county council seats. The Conservative party has made significant gains and Labour has suffered losses in local elections in England, Scotland and Wales, with Ukip facing a near total wipeout of its county council seats.
With just five weeks to go before the general election, Jeremy Corbyn’s party blamed “unique circumstances” for a challenging set of results in Thursday’s polls. Labour was performing worse than expected in a parallel series of votes for new metropolitan mayors, winning the contest in Liverpool, as expected, but losing out to the Conservatives in Tees Valley, traditionally a Labour heartland.
With just five weeks to go to the general election, Jeremy Corbyn’s party blamed “unique circumstances” for a challenging set of results in Thursday’s polls.
The numbers are ominous for Labour’s prospects in the general election, with the Conservatives benefiting from the huge decline in support for Ukip.The numbers are ominous for Labour’s prospects in the general election, with the Conservatives benefiting from the huge decline in support for Ukip.
The Liberal Democrats also did less well than hoped, while Ukip had, by 1pm, won just one seat and lost more than 70. The Liberal Democrats also did less well than hoped, while Ukip had, by 1pm, won just one seat and lost more than 110.
By comparison, the Tories had gained more than 260 seats across the three nations, including almost 180 in England, and 70 in Scotland, where counting only began on Friday morning. By comparison, the Tories had gained 440 seats across the three nations, including 275 in England.
Labour had lost more than 190 seats in total, almost 100 of these in Scotland, where the party lost control of Glasgow council for the first time in more than 35 years. Labour had lost more than 290 seats in total, almost 100 of them in Wales. In Scotland, the party lost control of Glasgow council for the first time in more than 35 years.
A BBC estimate of the projected national share of voting – what vote proportions would be expected if every British ward had taken part – put the Conservatives on 38%, Labour on 27%, the Lib Dems on 18% and Ukip on 5%.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said he accepted it had been a “tough night” but defended Corbyn’s performance and told ITV it had “not been the wipeout people were expecting”.John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said he accepted it had been a “tough night” but defended Corbyn’s performance and told ITV it had “not been the wipeout people were expecting”.
Theresa May’s party gained control of at least four English councils – Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire and the Isle of Wight – which swung from no overall control to Conservative control. Theresa May’s party gained control of at 10 English councils – Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Isle of Wight, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Warwickshire. Derbyshire was taken from Labour, with the others formerly under no overall control.
Two of the most significant results were in the north, where Labour has dominated local government for many decades. The Conservatives became the largest party on Cumbria county council in north-west England and Northumberland in the north-east, where it was denied a majority when a Lib Dem candidate beat a Tory by drawing straws to settle a tied result.Two of the most significant results were in the north, where Labour has dominated local government for many decades. The Conservatives became the largest party on Cumbria county council in north-west England and Northumberland in the north-east, where it was denied a majority when a Lib Dem candidate beat a Tory by drawing straws to settle a tied result.
In Wales, the Tories gained 70 seats and independents have added 71, while Labour lost seats but remained the most dominant party. The Tories gained Monmouthshire council, while Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent and Bridgend but strengthened its presence in Swansea. In Wales, the Tories gained more than 70 seats and independents have added 10, while Labour lost seats but remained the most dominant party. The Tories gained Monmouthshire council, while Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent and Bridgend but strengthened its presence in Swansea.
The Lib Dems failed to make the gains they were hoping for in the south and south-west, and by 1pm were showing a net loss of 34 seats. The Lib Dems failed to make the gains they were hoping for in the south and south-west, and were showing a net loss of 35 seats.
Ukip – which lost its presence on Lincolnshire, Essex and Hampshire councils – took until after midday to win a single seat, taking a Lancashire ward from Labour.Ukip – which lost its presence on Lincolnshire, Essex and Hampshire councils – took until after midday to win a single seat, taking a Lancashire ward from Labour.
The Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, said it had been a difficult night for the party but that it may almost have been a worthwhile sacrifice given the Conservatives’ embrace of Brexit.The Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, said it had been a difficult night for the party but that it may almost have been a worthwhile sacrifice given the Conservatives’ embrace of Brexit.
“If the price of Britain leaving the EU is a Tory advance after taking up this patriotic cause then it is a price Ukip is prepared to pay,” he said in a statement.“If the price of Britain leaving the EU is a Tory advance after taking up this patriotic cause then it is a price Ukip is prepared to pay,” he said in a statement.
The Greens, who increased their number of seats from five to 18, and Plaid Cymru, which gained 28 wards, were the only parties other than the Tories to win ground. The Greens, who increased their number of seats by five to 23, and Plaid Cymru, which gained 33 wards, were the only parties other than the Tories to win ground.
Many results have yet to be declared but there is likely to be some cheer for Labour when the party is expected to win metro mayoral votes in Greater Manchester, Liverpool and potentially the tightly fought battle in the West Midlands.
The first metro mayoral result to be announced was for the West of England area including Bristol, Bath, north-east Somerset and south Gloucestershire, which went to the Conservative candidate, Tim Bowles.The first metro mayoral result to be announced was for the West of England area including Bristol, Bath, north-east Somerset and south Gloucestershire, which went to the Conservative candidate, Tim Bowles.
The former Labour MP Steve Rotherham won the Liverpool mayoralty, with 59% of the first choice vote, but in Tees Valley the Conservative Ben Houchen narrowly beat Labour’s Sue Jeffrey when second-preference votes were counted.
The tightly fought West Midlands mayoralty race was in a second round, with the Tory Andy Street just winning in the first count.
After polls closed, Corbyn’s team played down expectations of Labour’s performance, accepting that the party could lose hundreds of seats.After polls closed, Corbyn’s team played down expectations of Labour’s performance, accepting that the party could lose hundreds of seats.
The party said it performed strongly in 2013 when the same council seats were last contested, and it was confident its message would start to resonate as 8 June approached.The party said it performed strongly in 2013 when the same council seats were last contested, and it was confident its message would start to resonate as 8 June approached.
Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, told the BBC that not too much should be read into “a relatively low turnout type of election”.Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, told the BBC that not too much should be read into “a relatively low turnout type of election”.
She said: “At the general we will have a higher turnout. And I believe that Labour voters will be repelled by Tory triumphalism and the notion of giving Theresa May some kind of blank cheque.”She said: “At the general we will have a higher turnout. And I believe that Labour voters will be repelled by Tory triumphalism and the notion of giving Theresa May some kind of blank cheque.”
But Philip Johnson, a Labour parliamentary candidate for Nuneaton who lost his Warwickshire council seat, said Corbyn was “putting off” some voters. Stephen Kinnock was also forthright in his criticism of the leadership and argued the party needed to make the general election about the wider team.But Philip Johnson, a Labour parliamentary candidate for Nuneaton who lost his Warwickshire council seat, said Corbyn was “putting off” some voters. Stephen Kinnock was also forthright in his criticism of the leadership and argued the party needed to make the general election about the wider team.
He told the BBC: “I think we can’t just put a spin on this – the fact of the matter is that Jeremy’s leadership does come up on the doorstep on a very regular basis. What we have to do is make this election about more than leadership; we’ve got to make it about the future of our country.He told the BBC: “I think we can’t just put a spin on this – the fact of the matter is that Jeremy’s leadership does come up on the doorstep on a very regular basis. What we have to do is make this election about more than leadership; we’ve got to make it about the future of our country.
“We are seeing from people on the doorstep that they are worried about the polarisation of our politics; they do feel there is a shift to the hard left and a shift to the hard right. And my vision of the Labour party is not one where we are anywhere near the hard left. We are a party that is a centrist, patriotic party that stands up for working people.”“We are seeing from people on the doorstep that they are worried about the polarisation of our politics; they do feel there is a shift to the hard left and a shift to the hard right. And my vision of the Labour party is not one where we are anywhere near the hard left. We are a party that is a centrist, patriotic party that stands up for working people.”
McDonnell said Labour’s policies were going down well and people would like Corbyn the more they were exposed to him. McDonnell said Labour’s policies were going down well and people would like Corbyn more the more they were exposed to him.
“I’m not underestimating the challenge we face across the country, but what I’m saying is it wasn’t the wipeout many predicted,” he told the BBC. “It is much better and I think we turned out our vote in ways people didn’t expect. In the national campaign we have set out extremely popular policies and this issue about Jeremy Corbyn, in the very area he campaigned, Cardiff, we actually held on to it well.”“I’m not underestimating the challenge we face across the country, but what I’m saying is it wasn’t the wipeout many predicted,” he told the BBC. “It is much better and I think we turned out our vote in ways people didn’t expect. In the national campaign we have set out extremely popular policies and this issue about Jeremy Corbyn, in the very area he campaigned, Cardiff, we actually held on to it well.”
McDonnell said there would be balanced airtime in the broadcast media during a general election, counteracting “unbalanced media reporting of [Jeremy Corbyn] for the last two years”.McDonnell said there would be balanced airtime in the broadcast media during a general election, counteracting “unbalanced media reporting of [Jeremy Corbyn] for the last two years”.
“What we’re finding is people like the policies and then they see Jeremy Corbyn is an honest, decent but also principled man, so the more airtime we get the better,” he said.“What we’re finding is people like the policies and then they see Jeremy Corbyn is an honest, decent but also principled man, so the more airtime we get the better,” he said.
Up for grabs were seats on 35 English councils – most of them county councils – and every council seat in Scotland and Wales. Turnout in England is expected to have been about 35% – slightly up on the last comparable elections.Up for grabs were seats on 35 English councils – most of them county councils – and every council seat in Scotland and Wales. Turnout in England is expected to have been about 35% – slightly up on the last comparable elections.
Strategists from all the major parties will be scrutinising the results closely for signs that May’s relentless message of providing “strong and stable leadership” has persuaded habitual Labour voters to turn to the Conservatives. The Conservatives have been trying to play down the results for fear supporters may not bother to turn out at the general election in anticipation of a landslide for May.
The results so far appear to support the hypothesis that Ukip’s vote is collapsing in the Tories’ favour, as May pledges to deliver Brexit.
However, the Conservatives are trying to play down their good results for fear people may not bother to turn out at the general election because they assume May is on course for a landslide.
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, told the BBC: “It looks as if we have made so far some encouraging gains … but it’s very early days yet. Most of these councils, the vast majority, are still to count. We’ll have to wait and see what the final results are – and overall, of course, the turnout is much lower than you get in a general election.”Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, told the BBC: “It looks as if we have made so far some encouraging gains … but it’s very early days yet. Most of these councils, the vast majority, are still to count. We’ll have to wait and see what the final results are – and overall, of course, the turnout is much lower than you get in a general election.”
He denied that the Conservatives were benefiting only from Ukip’s demise, attributing some of the party’s advances to “Jeremy Corbyn’s very feeble leadership”.He denied that the Conservatives were benefiting only from Ukip’s demise, attributing some of the party’s advances to “Jeremy Corbyn’s very feeble leadership”.
Labour sources suggested the overall picture was complex and only the national vote share would be an indication of what may be to come in the general election. But losses in traditionally Labour areas where the local MP has a small majority will inevitably raise fears that the party is on course for a heavy defeat next month.
Anthony Wells, of the pollsters YouGov, said Labour was just three percentage points behind the position Margaret Thatcher’s Conservatives were in at the 1983 local elections, but trailed by 16 points in the general election that followed just a month later.Anthony Wells, of the pollsters YouGov, said Labour was just three percentage points behind the position Margaret Thatcher’s Conservatives were in at the 1983 local elections, but trailed by 16 points in the general election that followed just a month later.
Wells said: “Don’t just assume that the projected overall shares of the vote at this week’s votes are going to be repeated in next month’s election. People vote differently for different reasons at different sorts of election.”Wells said: “Don’t just assume that the projected overall shares of the vote at this week’s votes are going to be repeated in next month’s election. People vote differently for different reasons at different sorts of election.”