Labour gain Plymouth from minority Conservative controlLabour has taken control of Plymouth Council from the Conservatives.
The party needed five gains to take overall control of the council, which had been led by a minority Conservative administration, and managed to make six gains tonight.
Plymouth, as I’m sure you know, is the seat where trees have been a major election issue.
The Conservative administration had been heavily criticised after cutting down 110 healthy trees in the city overnight, and Labour expected to make significant progress in the city.
Key events
Robert Ford
A reminder of what is at stake today for the Conservatives and the opposition nationally:
The task for Rishi Sunak in his first electoral test is clear. The tide is against his party, so he needs to set the bar low and hope disaster is at least averted. It does not help that his party are more exposed than usual with this year’s contests mainly on blue-leaning territory.
Yet the Conservatives also had a weaker than usual starting position, thanks to the electoral wipeout they suffered in 2019, when nearly all of the seats being contested were last fought. The 2019 contest took place in the dog days of the May government, with Nigel Farage’s Brexit party surging in the polls.
It was a disaster for the Tories, with more than 1,300 seats lost, but meltdown then means less exposure now. The Conservatives are defending fewer vulnerable seats and may even recover ground in some quarters. Every defence against the tide and unexpected gain will be seized upon as a sign of resilience.
Keir Starmer’s task is equally clear: this local election offers the best opportunity for a show of strength. He needs Labour to convert clear poll leads into council clean sweeps. The past is also helpful for Labour – the 2019 local elections were a “plague on both your houses” cycle, where voters turned against government and opposition alike. Labour, like the Conservatives, lost votes and seats then. But Labour, unlike the Conservatives, have recovered strongly since. The opposition is therefore sure to advance even if the governing party does not fall further.
While a Labour win in Medway looks likely, we’re still awaiting an official result.
Labour hopes to win the unitary authority in Medway for the first time since its creation in 1998.
It is “quite obvious” Labour will form the next administration at Medway, the Conservative leader of the council has said.
Asked whether he was sure that Labour would gain Medway Council, Alan Jarrett told the BBC’s Elections 2023 programme: “Yes, pretty sure because although we haven’t had many seats declared, wards declared, it is quite obvious from the counting that Labour will form the next administration.”
Conservatives lose Windsor and MaidenheadThe Conservatives have lost control of Windsor and Maidenhead (a single council) after the Liberal Democrats made gains in the royal borough, PA reports.
With 17 of the 41 seats still to declare, the Conservatives held only three seats, with the Lib Dems on 13 and independents on eight.
The Conservatives had 22 seats on the council before polling day, with the Lib Dems on 10.
The loss of this council is the Tories’ sixth loss so far.
Labour says results will be best since 1997Labour is confident it will have its best local election results since 1997, PA reports, with an equivalent vote share lead of at least 8% over the Tories.
The party believes the results so far suggest it is on track to win the next general election.
Shabana Mahmood, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator, said: “These results show that we are on course for a majority Labour government.”
Labour’s national campaign coordinator Shabana Mahmood (left) appearing on the BBC on Sunday 30 April 2023. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA“We have spent the whole campaign talking about Labour’s plan to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis which is the number one issue for voters.
“Rishi Sunak can’t talk about it because the Tories crashed the economy and they don’t know how to fix it.
“These results have been a disaster for Rishi Sunak as voters punish him for the Tories’ failure.”
Veterans Minister and Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer, described by Labour MP Luke Pollard as “toast” after the Labour gained control of Plymouth council:
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer speaking over Labour councillors celebrating in the background followed by *that* look not painting a positive picture for the Tories’ results so far pic.twitter.com/zI35otHX80
— Geri Scott (@Geri_E_L_Scott) May 5, 2023
Aletha Adu
Voters have heard the pledges and promises of four Conservative prime ministers since the last time this set of authorities were up for election in May 2019. Theresa May faced enormous pressure to quit after a bad set of results and she resigned in June that year.
Keir Starmer will be hoping to reap the rewards of Labour’s 18-point lead over the Conservatives. The Tories, who launched their local election campaign with little fanfare, have been in heavy expectation-management mode, predicting losses of more than 1,000 seats.
Commentators predict that Tory losses of even 500 seats would mean trouble for Rishi Sunak’s authority. But Labour also has a lot to prove.
The latest look at Brexit’s interesting impact on today’s results so far, according to politics researcher Will Jennings – Labour’s greatest gains are in areas that voted “Leave” in 2016. Areas that voted “Remain” are where the Conservatives have suffered their greatest losses:
An updated analysis of the vote by Brexit vote, based on results from nearly 200 wards. Labour is making its largest gains in areas that voted Leave in 2016, while the Conservatives are suffering their largest losses in areas that voted Remain. #LocalElections2023 @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/Li3xYsySBS
— Will Jennings 👌 (@drjennings) May 5, 2023 Transport Minister says Tory losses “certainly” fault of Johnson and TrussTransport minister Huw Merriman has suggested Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are to blame for the Conservative losses in local elections across England.
Merriman told the BBC’s Elections 2023 programme: “When I was talking to my constituents on the doorsteps yesterday, they were talking about older news about former prime ministers, but saying your current leader seems to have what it takes.
Former British Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph, in London, Britain 13 November 2022. Photograph: Reuters“He seems to be turning things around for us, but this is the opportunity for the electorate to give their vote on where we have been previously.”
Asked if it was Johnson and Truss’s fault, Merriman said: “Certainly, on the doorsteps the feedback I got was that we are in a better place. The polls show that as well. People are reacting in a more positive way towards Rishi Sunak.”
Liberal Democrats hold North NorfolkDavey will be happy to hear that the Liberal Democrats have held onto North Norfolk, even managing to gain a seat.
The Tories gained two seats.
Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said it had been a “groundbreaking night” for his party, PA reports.
He said: “We are exceeding all expectations. We have delivered a hammer blow to the Conservative Party in the blue wall ahead of next year’s general election.
“We’re making progress all over the country – including in the heart of the blue wall, where we’re confident of taking control of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey campaigns ahead of local elections. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images“From Bath to Brentwood, more and more communities are choosing Liberal Democrats to be their local champions.
“The message from voters is clear: they are sick to the back teeth of Rishi Sunak and his out-of-touch Conservative Government.
“At this election, it is the Liberal Democrats who are defeating the Conservatives and delivering the fair deal people deserve.”
Meanwhile in Stoke-on-Trent: