Local elections outcomes 2024 dwell: Labour win Blackpool South as Tories set for ‘catastrophic’ 500-seat loss

Counting is below manner within the 107 councils in England that held elections on Thursday, with the primary outcomes declared in a single day and extra to return afterward Friday.

Early outcomes for the police & crime commissioner elections throughout England and Wales have additionally been declared, whereas outcomes are due on Friday afternoon for the mayors within the East Midlands, North East, Tees Valley and York & North Yorkshire.

There was additionally a byelection in Blackpool South – which noticed Labour take the seat from the Conservatives with 58.9 per cent of the vote share.

Labour’s candidate Chris Webb acquired 10,825 votes, with the Tories trailing far behind with simply 3,218 and Reform behind with simply 3,218.

Here are a number of the key outcomes to this point:

The Labour Party gained management of the council for the primary time since 2019 due to a internet acquire of seven seats, whereas the Tories misplaced six.

While Labour did make progress in Harlow in Thursday’s council elections, it fell in need of an total majority by the narrowest of margins, ending up with 16 seats, only one behind the Tories on 17.

The occasion gained seven seats and a majority on Rushmoor council, an space that features the military city of Aldershot, whereas the Tories misplaced eight seats and total management.

Labour shall be happy with its efficiency within the Worcestershire council of Redditch – one other vital battleground on the common election – the place the occasion picked up 9 seats and total management, whereas the Conservatives noticed their tally drop by 11.

It was a much less cheery image for Labour in South Tyneside, the place the occasion suffered a internet lack of 10 seats. Independent candidates gained 9 seats and the Greens gained two, whereas the Tories misplaced their solely councillor.

Labour nonetheless has a majority right here, however solely simply: the brand new council can have 28 Labour councillors, 15 Independents and 11 Greens.

The Reform Party had a full or near-full slate of candidates in solely a handful of councils holding elections this yr and Sunderland was one of some locations the place it fought each seat.

While the occasion didn’t win any of them, it did beat the Conservatives into third place in 16 of the 25 seats up for grabs whereas Labour made a internet acquire of six to extend its comfy majority.

This Essex council was one other certainly one of Labour’s high targets in a key Conservative-Labour election battleground.

The occasion wanted to realize six seats to take management of Thurrock, which has been run by the Tories for the previous few years throughout a interval of turbulence that noticed the council declared successfully bankrupt in December 2022.

Labour ended up making a internet acquire of eight seats, sufficient for a transparent majority, with Independents selecting up two and the Tories struggling a internet lack of 10.

Labour has held Southampton City Council.

Good morning. So far, 35 out of 107 councils have declared outcomes.

Labour has gained 3 councils, with a rise of 52 councillors total.

The Conservatives have misplaced 3 councils and 121 councillors throughout the nation.

A number one politics professor has mentioned this yr’s native elections could possibly be the worst Conservative efficiency in practically 40 years.

Professor John Curtice, of the University of Strathclyde, instructed the BBC: “I think we’re probably looking at one of the worst if not the worst Conservative performances in local government elections in the last 40 years.

“There’s much more to come, but I think we have to conclude that the message from the polls is the Conservative party has not been making significant progress.”

Labour has misplaced management of Oldham after dropping seats to Independents.

With two seats nonetheless to declare, the occasion was unable to succeed in the brink of 31 for a majority on the council.

Portsmouth stays below no total management, with the Liberal Democrats nonetheless the most important occasion.

Labour has taken to social media to mock the Tories over the crushing defeats Rishi Sunak has confronted in a sequence of recent by-elections.

It pointed to 4 20-plus level swings to Labour from the Conservatives in Blackpool South final night time, Wellingborough, Tamworth, and Selby and Ainsty.

Alongside an image of a miniature Mr Sunak standing on a swing, it mentioned: “This is a a big swing.”

But, posting the outcomes of the 4 by-elections, it added: “These were bigger.”

A Lib Dem supply mentioned: “We are buoyed by our gains overnight that set us up to take seats off the Conservatives at the next election.

“We have made new inroads in true blue councils in Hampshire including in Suella Braverman’s backyard, gained ground in Stockport and topped the popular vote in battleground constituencies across the country.

“This is just a taster of what is to come throughout Friday in the Blue Wall.”