Labour and the Liberal Democrats have made significant gains in the local elections, with the Conservatives losing more than 1,000 councillors and 45 councils, according to results declared so far. The BBC projects that if all of Britain voted, Labour would hold a nine-point lead over the Conservatives.
Labour has seized control of councils in key election battlegrounds including Swindon, Medway, Dover, and East Staffordshire. The Liberal Democrats took control of Stratford-on-Avon, Dacorum, Windsor and Maidenhead, and South Hams from the Tories. The Green Party achieved its first ever outright majority on a council in Mid Suffolk.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged some "disappointing results," while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party is on course to win the next general election. With 226 out of 230 councils declared, only four remain, including Redcar and Cleveland which will continue counting on Tuesday.
In other results, Labour took control of Amber Valley in Derbyshire from the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats added Guildford to their tally. Waverley in Surrey remains under no overall control. A group of Independents, including local wrestler Dale Broughton, won control of Boston Borough Council, where the Tories lost 10 councillors.
Brighton & Hove, previously under a minority Green administration, was taken by Labour. The Electoral Commission is collating data on voter ID refusals; initial reports suggest 57 people were turned away in Lincoln for lack of ID, with 25 later returning with proper identification.
