Election results so far at a glance - and what's still to come

Election results so far at a glance - and what's still to come

Briefly

"Reform UK has been picking up seats in former Labour heartlands in the north of England and the Midlands, including Wigan, Bolton, Salford and Halton. In Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth Labour lost control of the council as support for Reform surged. The last time these councils were up for election, Reform was in its infancy, so it's only possible for the party to win majority control in areas where all seats are being contested. For most councils counting overnight, only a third of seats were up for election, so the party's best chance of winning power could be later in the day."

"Reform also made gains at the expense of the Conservatives in places like Brentwood, Tamworth and North East Lincolnshire. Overall, the Tories have lost seats but there were some bright spots, including in Harlow in Essex, where the party held the council. Meanwhile, the Tories are facing a battle to win back Westminster and Wandsworth councils in London. The two areas had previously been flagship Conservative councils and under the party's control for decades until 2022, when they were won by Labour."

"The polls across Scotland, Wales and 136 English councils are the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election and a key test for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The full picture will emerge later as most councils are not counting overnight and are due to announce results later on Friday, along with results for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament. Here are the key developments so far - and what's still to come."

"The party continues to face a threat from Reform UK in county council elections like Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, which declare results later. Meanwhile, in parts of southern England including Surrey and Sussex, it is the Liberal Democrats who pose the biggest challenge to the Tories. It was a mixed set of results"