Labour and the Lib Dems are making gains at the expense of the Conservatives across England, as local election results roll in.
Labour won control in Swindon, Plymouth, Medway and Stoke-on-Trent – a former Labour stronghold.
And the Lib Dems have won control of three councils from the Conservatives, including Windsor and Maidenhead.
The elections are the first big test of Rishi Sunak’s electoral popularity since he became prime minister.
Results are continuing to come in through Friday afternoon and evening. But so far, the Conservatives have lost control of 26 councils.
The prime minister said it was disappointing to lose Conservative councillors, but added his party was making progress in “key election battlegrounds” like Peterborough, Sandwell and Bassetlaw.
Education Minister Robert Halfon said this year’s election was always “going to be difficult” for his party.
He said internal Tory Party divisions “didn’t help” but claimed the losses were down to external factors, such as the cost-of-living crisis and problems in the NHS.
“Every government during the mid-term, especially a government that has been in power for 13 years, always suffers losses in local elections,” he said.
But he added that Mr Sunak had “restored unity to the party” and “restored stability to the country, particularly in the economy”.
Some Tory MPs were clearly worried about the results, with several telling the BBC’s chief political correspondent Nick Eardley that apathy – Conservative voters staying at home – was also a big problem.
Gaining ground
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Medway to celebrate his party’s victory in the Kent council with local activists.
“You didn’t just get it over the line, you blew the doors off,” he told the crowd.
He claimed Labour were “on course” to win a majority at the next general election.
Labour has taken control of three councils from the Conservatives including Swindon. The council was a key target for Labour and where the party launched their election campaign.
The council had not been won by Labour since 1999, and the party now has its sights set on taking the area’s two parliamentary seats from the Conservatives.
Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey told the BBC he had a “Cheshire-cat” grin on his face following what he said had been a “ground-breaking night” for his party.
Speaking in Windsor, where his party took control of the council from the Conservatives, Sir Ed said: “The Liberal Democrats are the big winners in this year’s local elections.
“I’m so proud that when Katy Perry and Lionel Richie enter Windsor Castle for the coronation concert on Sunday, they’ll be going into a ward that’s represented by three brand new Liberal Democrat councillors.”
The Liberal Democrats have also taken control of Dacorum, which was won by the Conservatives in 2019, and Stratford-on-Avon.
The Green Party has won outright control of its first council in Mid Suffolk. Party co-leader Carla Denyer said her party were benefitting from “a deep dislike of the Tories and Starmer’s uninspiring Labour”.
The Greens have also become the largest party on East Hertfordshire Council, gaining 18 new seats. The Conservatives, who have run the council since 1995, have lost 27 seats – pushing the council into no overall control.
Results continue to be declared, including three mayoral contests in Bedford, Leicester and Mansfield.
In Middlesbrough, Labour’s Chris Cooke became mayor beating the incumbent independent candidate.
Elections are not taking place in London, Scotland or Wales. Council elections in Northern Ireland have been moved back to Thursday 18 May because of the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.
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