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Polls close in European and English local elections Counting under way in local and Euro elections
(35 minutes later)
Polls have closed across the UK in the biggest test of public opinion before next year's general election. Counting is getting under way in the in the biggest test of UK public opinion before next year's general election.
Counting in the English local elections gets under way in many areas shortly with the first results expected in the early hours of Friday. Polls closed in the European and council elections at 22:00 BST with the first local election results expected in the early hours of Friday.
Voters will have to wait until late Sunday for the results of the European elections, when counting takes place across the European Union.Voters will have to wait until late Sunday for the results of the European elections, when counting takes place across the European Union.
Labour is neck-and-neck with UKIP to win the Euro election, polls suggest.Labour is neck-and-neck with UKIP to win the Euro election, polls suggest.
A poll by YouGov for Thursday's Sun newspaper predicted Nigel Farage's party would win with 27% of the vote, with the Lib Dems back in fifth place.A poll by YouGov for Thursday's Sun newspaper predicted Nigel Farage's party would win with 27% of the vote, with the Lib Dems back in fifth place.
Labour was treating the local elections as a dry-run for the 2015 general election, ruthlessly targeting battleground seats it needs to win at Westminster.Labour was treating the local elections as a dry-run for the 2015 general election, ruthlessly targeting battleground seats it needs to win at Westminster.
Ed Miliband's party is under pressure to show it can make gains outside of its northern heartlands - but it is in the best position to make gains in London.Ed Miliband's party is under pressure to show it can make gains outside of its northern heartlands - but it is in the best position to make gains in London.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the main parties were "polishing their excuses" in the event results do not go their way.
But a good performance for UKIP could mark the birth of "four party politics at Westminster elections".
ExpectationsExpectations
In contrast to most of the rest of England, where a third of seats on local councils were up for grabs, every seat in all 32 London boroughs was being contested on Thursday, raising the prospect of a dramatic redrawing of the capital's political map.In contrast to most of the rest of England, where a third of seats on local councils were up for grabs, every seat in all 32 London boroughs was being contested on Thursday, raising the prospect of a dramatic redrawing of the capital's political map.
If Labour has a good night, it will take control of Croydon, Barnet and Hammersmith and Fulham - all from the Conservatives. If Labour has a good night, it will take control of Croydon, Barnet and Hammersmith and Fulham - all from the Conservatives.
The first London results are expected after 03:00 BST.The first London results are expected after 03:00 BST.
Election experts Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher believe Labour will gain between 490 and 500 council seats - but party sources were playing down expectations, suggesting 150 to 200 gains would represent a good night.Election experts Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher believe Labour will gain between 490 and 500 council seats - but party sources were playing down expectations, suggesting 150 to 200 gains would represent a good night.
The Conservatives were defending 1,574 seats and 53 councils in England they currently control, including Trafford, Solihull, Milton Keynes, Croydon and Barnet.The Conservatives were defending 1,574 seats and 53 councils in England they currently control, including Trafford, Solihull, Milton Keynes, Croydon and Barnet.
Rallings and Thrasher believe David Cameron's party can expect to lose about 200 seats.Rallings and Thrasher believe David Cameron's party can expect to lose about 200 seats.
Braced for lossesBraced for losses
UKIP is expected to make gains in town halls across England. It is unlikely to take control of any local authorities outright but, if it has a good night, could become the official opposition in more areas.UKIP is expected to make gains in town halls across England. It is unlikely to take control of any local authorities outright but, if it has a good night, could become the official opposition in more areas.
Last year Nigel Farage's party won a lot of seats in Kent and Lancashire. It is hoping to repeat this performance in areas like Great Yarmouth, Basildon and Eastleigh, a Lib Dem stronghold it almost took at a Westminster by-election and which is expected to be among the first councils to declare at about 1:00 BST.Last year Nigel Farage's party won a lot of seats in Kent and Lancashire. It is hoping to repeat this performance in areas like Great Yarmouth, Basildon and Eastleigh, a Lib Dem stronghold it almost took at a Westminster by-election and which is expected to be among the first councils to declare at about 1:00 BST.
The Lib Dems are braced for further heavy losses in the local and European polls, with some senior party figures fearing it could lose all 12 of its MEPs.The Lib Dems are braced for further heavy losses in the local and European polls, with some senior party figures fearing it could lose all 12 of its MEPs.
But party insiders say they expect to buck the trend in areas where they have a strong local base. They are expected to lose at least 200 of their 732 local council seats being contested - but will hope to retain control of Kingston, in South London. But party insiders say they expect to buck the trend in areas where they have a strong local base. They are expected to lose at least 200 of their 732 local council seats being contested - and could lose control of Kingston and Sutton councils in South London, both home to Lib Dem MPs.
The Green Party overtook the Lib Dems in some opinion polls and is hoping to double its number of MEPs to four - it is also targeting areas where it has a strong activist base at the local elections such as Camden and Westminster.The Green Party overtook the Lib Dems in some opinion polls and is hoping to double its number of MEPs to four - it is also targeting areas where it has a strong activist base at the local elections such as Camden and Westminster.
Mayoral elections took place in the London boroughs Hackney, Lewisham, Newham - all with Labour incumbents seeking their fourth consecutive term - and in Tower Hamlets, where controversial independent mayor Lutfur Rahman was battling to retain power. Lib Dem Dorothy Thornhill was fighting to remain mayor of Watford.Mayoral elections took place in the London boroughs Hackney, Lewisham, Newham - all with Labour incumbents seeking their fourth consecutive term - and in Tower Hamlets, where controversial independent mayor Lutfur Rahman was battling to retain power. Lib Dem Dorothy Thornhill was fighting to remain mayor of Watford.
In Northern Ireland, voters were electing 462 representatives to 11 so-called "super districts" following a reorganisation that took place in 2012, reducing the number of councils from 26 previously.In Northern Ireland, voters were electing 462 representatives to 11 so-called "super districts" following a reorganisation that took place in 2012, reducing the number of councils from 26 previously.
There were no local elections in either Scotland or Wales.There were no local elections in either Scotland or Wales.