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London and UK local election 2022 results LIVE: Boris Johnson under pressure while Sinn Fein becomes becomes biggest party in Northern Ireland

London and UK local election 2022 results LIVE: Boris Johnson under pressure while Sinn Fein becomes becomes biggest party in Northern Ireland

Boris Johnson is under increasing pressure after the Tories lost almost 500 seats across Britain following the backlash over partygate and the cost of living crisis.

The Prime Minister admitted it had been a “tough night” at the local elections as the Conservatives lost 486 council seats, while some MPs such as Aaron Bell - who has submitted letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister - said Mr Johnson’s leadership must be addressed.

With disquiet rumbling in the party, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi also called for the MPs to unite in order to come back from a bruising electoral performance which saw the party lose strongholds such as Wandsworth, Westminster and Barnet to Labour.

While the Tory party suffered severe losses, the DUP also dropped in the polls with Sinn Fein becoming the biggest party in Northern Ireland for the first time in its history.

Of the 84 seats declared, Sinn Fein has won 24 while the DUP has 23 a 6.7 per cent drop in its vote share in comparison to 2017, which polling expert professor Sir John Curtice, said could be attributed to the issues surrounding Brexit.

Writing for the BBC, Sir John said: “The result in Northern Ireland is also part of the legacy of Brexit too.

“The unionist vote has fragmented because of the divisions within the community over whether or not the Northern Ireland Protocol is something that can be amended satisfactorily or whether it needs to be scrapped.”

He added: “So the real question now is how is the UK government going to successfully negotiate the protocol problem in such a way that the DUP can be persuaded into the executive and it doesn't cause too much damage with the EU. That is his most immediate political headache.”

Reacting to the results during a visit to a school in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, Mr Johnson told reporters: “It is mid-term. It’s certainly a mixed set of results.

“We had a tough night in some parts of the country but on the other hand in other parts of the country you are still seeing Conservatives going forward and making quite remarkable gains in places that haven’t voted Conservative for a long time, if ever.”

Follow the results below

Sinn Fein to take control of Northern Ireland Assembly in historic vote

19:10 , John Dunne

Sinn Fein is to become the first nationalist party to take control of the Northern Ireland Assembly in its 101-year history.

The party has 27 seats, in comparison to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has 24.

The most seats the DUP can return with is 25 and Michelle O’Neill is now set to become the country’s first nationalist first minister.

Voters flocked to the polls to elect 90 new members of the Legislative Assembly, with Sinn Fein winning a lion’s share of the seats.

Keir Starmer accused of hypocrisy over ‘beergate'

18:27 , Bill Mcloughlin

A leaked memo published by the Mail on Sunday indicated the curry enjoyed by Sir Keir and colleagues in April 2021 while coronavirus restrictions were in force was planned in advance on the schedule for the day’s campaigning, and that no further work was listed after the dinner.

Mr Cleverly said: “Starmer claimed it was an impromptu curry. Turns out it was pre-planned.

“Starmer claimed nowhere served food. Turns out that loads of places did.

“(Angela) Rayner claimed she wasn’t there. Turns out she was. Hypocrisy and dishonesty in equal measure.”

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly accused Sir Keir Starmer of “hypocrisy and dishonesty” over the beergate row.

Sinn Fein calls for ‘functioning’ Stormont

17:05 , Bill Mcloughlin

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Northern Ireland needed to have a functioning Executive as she reacted to her party's success in the Assembly election.

Speaking at the count centre in Magherafelt, Mrs McDonald said: "It has been a very successful campaign and we look forward to getting back to work and for Michelle to lead our team on Monday.

"We are here to do business. We need a functioning Executive. People are struggling and struggling badly now.

"They need relief, they need breathing space. We need the £300 million that has lain dormant, to get that into people's pockets.

"Above all else we want to do politics by partnership. I don't think there is any appetite for political posturing or gamesmanship at this point.

"We need good government and the kind of leadership that my friend and colleague Michelle O'Neill will bring."

Watch: DUP leader says party doing ‘extremely well'

16:42 , Bill Mcloughlin

Keir Starmer should consider position if fined, says Diane Abbott

15:34 , Bill Mcloughlin

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says Sir Keir Starmer should consider his position as Labour leader if he is fined for breaking Covid laws.

Questioned about the prospect of Sir Keir being fined on LBC radio, Ms Abbott said: “I don’t think he will - I think this is a lot of hype built up by the Tory press.

“But if he were to get a fixed penalty notice, he would have to consider his position,” added the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, who served as shadow home secretary under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“I’m a loyal supporter of Keir Starmer, I’m just making the common-sense point that if he gets a fixed penalty notice he should consider his position.”

Sir Keir Starmer said he did not believe the event had broken the rules (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) (PA Wire)
Sir Keir Starmer said he did not believe the event had broken the rules (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) (PA Wire)

Douglas Ross: PM must reflect on election results

14:35 , Bill Mcloughlin

Leader of the Scottish Tories, Douglas Ross has said the Prime Minister must reflect on the election results.

Although voters showed they were “unhappy” with the party, Mr Ross said Boris Johnson should remain in No10.

"Voters have "sent a very clear message that they were unhappy at this time," the Tory said.

The Conservatives fell to third place in Scotland in the local government elections, with Labour now back in second place in terms of votes and number of councillors.

Mr Ross insisted his change of stance had not impacted on what he accepted were "disappointing" results.

The Scottish Tory leader said: "I don't think, had I not changed my position in light of the atrocious conflict in Ukraine, it would have changed the situation, because voters I was speaking to were unhappy with the Prime Minister and unhappy with partygate.

"Had I maintained my position despite the war in Europe, those voters would still have been unhappy with partygate and still unhappy with the Prime Minister because he remains in post."

Sinn Fein success poses ‘big question’ for UK’s future, says Nicola Sturgeon

13:16 , Bill Mcloughlin

Sinn Fein's performance in Northern Ireland has shown there are "big questions" around the future of the UK "as a political entity", Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The nationalist party looks to be closing in on victory at Stormont, taking the most seats and selecting the country's next First Minister.

And Scotland's First Minister has said the result throws the future into doubt, with strong nationalist performances in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland this week.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Saturday, after her party increased its lead in Thursday's council elections, Ms Sturgeon said: "If (Sinn Fein) emerge as the largest party today in Northern Ireland which looks very likely, that will be an extraordinary result and something that seemed impossible not that long ago."

She added: "There's no doubt there are big fundamental questions being asked of the UK as a political entity right now.

"They're being asked here in Scotland, they're being asked in Northern Ireland, they're being asked in Wales and I think we're going to see some fundamental changes to UK governance in the years to come and I am certain one of those changes is going to be Scottish independence."

Final results in Scotland

12:57 , Bill Mcloughlin

North of the border, the SNP won a further 22 council seats, taking the party’s total to 453. The Labour party has also gained one council.

The Tories lost 62 seats, with their overall number falling to 214. The Labour party won 20 (282), the Lib Dems also won 20 (87) and the Greens 16 (35).

Final results in Wales

12:23 , Bill Mcloughlin

In line with their overall performance, the Tories have lost 86 (111) seats in Wales and one council.

Labour gaiend 66 (526) seats including one council itself.

Overall, Plaid Cymru gained three councila to four but lost six seats. The Lib Dems gained 10 seats taking their share to 69.

Former DUP leader Edwin Poots elected to Belfast South

11:33 , Bill Mcloughlin

Former DUP leader Edwin Poots has won a seat in Belfast South.

The five assembly members are:

Deirdre Hargey (Sinn Fein)

Edwin Poots (DUP)

Matthew O’Toole (SDLP)

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance)

Kate Nicholl (Alliance)

Alliance Party candidate first to be elected today

11:23 , Bill Mcloughlin

Paula Bradshaw fro mthe Alliance Party has been elected to Belfast South.

She becomes the first person to be elected today.

Wes Streeting hits out at ‘desperate’ Tories as he defends Sir Keir over Covid probe

10:23 , Bill Mcloughlin

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called the Conservatives “desperate” for accusing Sir Keir Starmer of breaching lockdown rules.

Durham Police announced on Friday that an investigation into allegations Sir Keir broke Covid rules during last year’s lockdown, had been launched.

Asked if Sir Keir should resign if he is fined for breaking the rules, Mr Streeting told Sky News: “I really don’t think it’s going to come to that because the police have looked at this before. I don’t see any reason why they would draw any other conclusions to the one they drew when they were last asked to look at this.”

Read our story here.

Counting resumes in Northern Ireland

09:57 , Bill Mcloughlin

Counting has resumed in Northern Ireland where Sinn Feinn is predicted to becoem the larges party in Stormont.

Speaking on Friday, president fo the party, Mary Lou McDonald said: “Today is a good day — it’s about change, it’s about progress and partnership.

“We want to thank everyone for voting and being part of a democratic process in what, we believe, is the election of a generation. We are here to serve everyone.”

Wes Streeting: Labour has made huge strides forward

09:04 , Bill Mcloughlin

Labour's shadow health secretary praised his party’s local election performance but warned the Opposition cannto become “complacement”.

Speaking to Sky News on Labour’s electoral gains, he said: “That is remarkable progress with two years of Keir Starmer being leader of the Labour party," he said.

"Of course there is more to do. We don't want to sound the least bit complacent about that but I think that's what the next period of Keir's leadership in opposition is about.

"It's about building on the progress that's made and turning the hostilities to the Conservatives in government, a desire to see them out of government which is what I think these results show, into a hunger, an appetite for a Labour government."

Boris Johnson remains an asset, says Nadhim Zahawi

08:12 , Bill Mcloughlin

Boris Johnson remains an electoral asset to the Conservative Party, a Cabinet minister has insisted, despite the Tories suffering a net loss of almost 400 seats in local elections.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi urged Tory MPs not to move against the Prime Minister.

He told Sky News: "He is an asset, absolutely ... If you look at the way that Boris cuts through in places like Nuneaton, places like Newcastle-under-Lyme, other parts of the country as well - Harrow in London."

In a message to Tory colleagues, he said: "People don't like to vote for split parties, for teams that are divided.

"We are strongest when we are united, we've got a Queen's Speech next week where we will demonstrate to the nation that the second half of this Parliament is all about dealing with repairing the economy, recovering from Covid, the backlog of the NHS and national security - here at home, safer streets - and, of course, abroad.

"All of these things we have a plan for.

"We are stronger when we are united and that would be my message to all my colleagues."

Sinn Fein braced for historic win

07:22 , Bill Mcloughlin

So far, Sinn Feinn has won 18 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly with countng set to resume later today.

The DUP has won 12 seats with a further 44 left to declare.

The Alliance party has won eight, the Ulster Unionist Party four, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party two.

Tories lose over 467 seats

07:05 , Bill Mcloughlin

The Tory party has now lost 467 council seats with just two more councils in England left to declare their results.

Labour has gainrd 129 seats, the Lib Dems 222, and Greens an additional 76.

Sinn Fein on course for historic victory in NI Assembly election

Friday 6 May 2022 22:25 , Barney Davis

Sinn Fein is on course for a historic victory in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, after receiving the most first-preference votes.

With counting for the 90 Stormont seats continuing, the republican party had won 16 seats, well ahead of the Alliance on seven, the DUP on six, the Ulster Unionists on three and the SDLP on one.

Sinn Fein looks set to emerge with the most seats after it received 250,388 first preferences, compared with 184,002 for the DUP and 116,681 for the Alliance Party.

This means that it received 29% of first preference votes, compared with 21.3% for the DUP, 13.5% for Alliance, 11.2% for the Ulster Unionists and 9.1% for the SDLP.

Naomi Long’s Alliance Party looks set to be the other main winner from the election, with a surge of support for the cross-community party likely to make it the third largest at Stormont, ahead of the UUP and SDLP, who have both had disappointing results.

However, the counting process was slow, with just over a third of the 90 seats filled shortly before 10pm on Friday.

Bromley Tories regret at national results

Friday 6 May 2022 22:17 , Barney Davis

Bromley Conservative Leader Colin Smith admitted it had not been an ideal set of results despite winning in his ward of Bickley.

He said: “Today’s result in Bickley is tinged with an element of regret it must be said. We’ve lost some outstanding councillors around parts of the ward.

“Nothing can be done about that now, we move forward with our big programme over the next four years and it starts today.”

Delays in the Croydon mayoral result

Friday 6 May 2022 22:04 , Barney Davis

Tory suffer huge losses and wiped out in Wales

Friday 6 May 2022 21:09 , Barney Davis

The number of Tory council seat losses is now at 482 across the UK.

The Conservatives have lost control of the only council they had majority control of in Wales.

Monmouthshire, in south-east Wales, has been led by the party since 2017 but Labour now has the most seats.

The Welsh Tories were expecting losses, but not nearly all the gains they made in the last council elections five years ago.

Their leader, Andrew RT Davies, blames the issues that have plagued Boris Johnson’s government in Westminster - the cost of living crisis and partygate.

Labour increase majority in Cardiff

Friday 6 May 2022 20:38 , Barney Davis

Labour notched up 16 gains in Cardiff to increase their overall majority on the city council to 31. Labour now has 55 seats, the Conservatives 11, the Liberal Democrats 10, Plaid Cymru two and Propel one.

Newham held by Labour

Friday 6 May 2022 20:30 , Barney Davis

Despite a slight drop on the 2018 results, Newham will remain a Labour stronghold for at least another four years.

It wasn’t without shocks, however as the two seats available in Stratford Olympic Park both went to the Greens.

Newham hasn’t elected councillors from anywhere other than Labour since 2006 so in a way cllrs Nathaniel Higgins and Daniel Keeling are history makers.

Around 361,700 residents live in Newham, with the median age being 32.7 years old, and one in four residents being under the age of 18.

According to the Trust for London, Newham experiences significant problems with poverty and inequality.

Half of children (50%) are judged to be in households in poverty, compared to 37% in the typical London borough. The rate of households in temporary accommodation in Newham is by far the highest in the capital.

Lib Dems easily retain Kingston-Upon-Thames council

Friday 6 May 2022 19:42 , Barney Davis

The final results are in for Kingston and the Liberal Democrats easily win.

41 Lib Dem councillors were elected a resounding victory over the closest party the Conservatives who won 3.

Kingston has been a Lib Dem stronghold since the party seized control from the Tories in 2018.

The borough is home to MP and party leader Ed Davey.

Conservatives hold Bromley

Friday 6 May 2022 19:41 , Barney Davis

Tories retain Bromley despite losing 14 seats and Labour gaining 4.

The largest borough in Greater London in terms of overall area and one of the most rural, Bromley is one of the traditional Conservative strongholds in the capital.

Aside from one council term in the late 1990’s, when a surge in support for the Liberal Democrats saw no party gain overall control of the council, the Conservatives have held a majority since the borough’s formation in 1964.

Final results:

Conservative: 36 (-14)

Labour: 12 (+4)

Lib Dems: 5 (+5)

Chislehurst Matters: 3 (+3)

Biggin Hill Independents: 2 (-)

Haringey stays firmly red

Friday 6 May 2022 19:13 , Michael Howie

Labour have maintained control of Haringey, picking up another 11 seats - mostly at the expense of the Lib Dems who lost eight.

The new council comprises of 50 Labour councillors and seven Lib Dems.

Labour candidates have won every seat in Lewisham for a second time

Friday 6 May 2022 19:02 , Michael Howie

Labour candidates have won every seat in Lewisham for a second time.

The party fought off a Green threat in Brockley to retain all 54 seats across the south London borough - as in 2018.

Labour’s Damien Egan was re-elected mayor with an increased share of the vote.

More from the newly-(re)elected Tower Hamlets mayor

Friday 6 May 2022 18:46 , Michael Howie

Asked about his previous ban from standing, Mr Rahman said: “I’m not going to make a comment about that. Today is not about that. Today is about the people of the borough. They came out in large numbers yesterday and they expressed the democratic will in a loud voice and they wanted change. And that change is me and Aspire.”

Asked if this was a free and fair election, he said “I have no doubt. I have full faith in the council officers, I have full faith in the police officers in the borough. And they have overseen a democratic process yesterday”.

Rahman: ‘The people of the borough gave a verdict today’

Friday 6 May 2022 18:44 , Michael Howie

Reacting to his win, Lutfur Rahman said: “The people of the borough gave a verdict today. I was in the court of the people. And they said, in a loud voice, they wanted Lutfur Rahman and his team to serve them for the next four years and that’s what I want to do.”

The round-up from a seismic result in Tower Hamlets from our reporters Josh Salisbury and Rachael Burford

Friday 6 May 2022 18:30 , Barney Davis

Lutfur Rahman has been elected mayor of Tower Hamlets in London on the second round, defeating incumbent John Biggs of Labour.

Mr Rahman, of Aspire, won 40,804 votes, with Mr Biggs on 33,487.

Lutfur Rahman wins Tower Hamlets mayoral race in major upset

Labour’s former mayor John Biggs bows out to Lutfur Rahman after second round of votes

Friday 6 May 2022 18:18 , Barney Davis

In a shock defeat for Labour, former mayor John Biggs said: “It’s a decisive result and while obviously I am disappointed I must accept it graciously.

“I am proud of our many achievements but clearly this reflects a desire for change.

“I worry about divisive community politics but the new mayor must seize the opportunity and deliver on the promises he made.

“It’s been a great day for Labour across London and our local result should not diminish that.”

Lutfur Rahman won on the second round of votes after his Aspire party took 55%.

Lutfur Rahman was thrown out of office in 2015 and banned from standing for five years after an election court found him guilty of electoral fraud.

Labour hold Hackney council

Friday 6 May 2022 18:04 , Barney Davis

Labour sources starting to concede in Tower Hamlets

Friday 6 May 2022 17:46 , Barney Davis

Political reporter Rachael Burford has the latest in what would be a shock defeat for Labour and mark the return of Lutfur Rahman.

Conservatives take Harrow off Labour in their first London Gain

Friday 6 May 2022 17:08 , Barney Davis

The Conservatives have captured the London borough of Harrow from Labour. The party now has 31 seats with Labour on 24.

Tory Tower Hamlets candidate says Luftur Rahman will win the borough

Friday 6 May 2022 17:06 , Barney Davis

One of Lutfur Rahman’s rivals for the Tower Hamlets mayoralty has said he believes the controversial politician will win the election.

Luftur Rahman is currently leading in first preference votes.

The Aspire candidate who previously held the post but was removed from office has 39,533 votes while current mayor John Biggs is in second place with 27,894.

Andrew Wood, an independent councillor for Canary Wharf, said he thought the incumbent mayor, Labour’s John Biggs, was too unpopular to beat Mr Rahman.

He argued that Mr Biggs had isolated the white working class by bringing in low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), which limit the movement of traffic in residential areas.

According to Mr Wood, Mr Rahman could regain power with support from this group and Tower Hamlets’ Bengali community, who were said to make up his traditional support base.

He continued: “Elections are won or lost, depending on how the British Bengali community decide to allocate their vote.

“If Lutfur wins, it’s because of a combination of that and the white working class votes, because of the LTN issue in particular.”

Labour wins Birmingham Council

Friday 6 May 2022 17:04 , Barney Davis

Labour has regained control of Birmingham, England’s largest metro council. With some results yet to be declared, Labour has won 57 seats on the 101-member authority.

With Labour holding Islington here are the main issues affecting the borough

Friday 6 May 2022 16:54 , Barney Davis

London elections 2022: Spotlight on Islington

‘Privelige of my life to serve Newham’ Rokhsana Fiaz reacts to re-election

Friday 6 May 2022 16:44 , Barney Davis

Rokhsana Fiaz, who was just re-elected as Newham’s mayor, said the result proves that “Labour is winning, and is showing what Labour can do, and will do, in power”.

The Newham Recorder quoted her as saying in her victory speech: “This is my purpose, and this is the purpose of Labour in Newham.”

Hackney Mayor elected: Philip Glanville, Labour with 59% of the vote

Friday 6 May 2022 16:36 , Barney Davis

Hackney has re-elected its Labour mayor Philip Glanville with 36,049 votes.

He told the NE Londoner that he wanted to give more power to Hackney residents and help them face the cost of living crisis thae biggest threat to the borough.

He adds he wanted to solve homelessness in the east London borough and boost employment rates and the living wage.

Lewisham Mayor elected: Damien Egan, Labour with 58.05% of the vote

Friday 6 May 2022 16:27 , Barney Davis

Damien Egan has been re-elected as Lewisham mayor.

In a tweet he thanked his Labour supporters calling his victory a “big team effort”.

Harrow up for grabs - Sources say

Friday 6 May 2022 16:21 , Barney Davis

Our political reporter Rachael Burford says the result is up in the air in the north west London borough of Harrow.

Labour holds Islington council

Friday 6 May 2022 16:16 , Barney Davis

Labour has held onto Islington Council in a clean sweep of seats.

Labour remains in overall control with 48 seats. It has held power in the north London borough since 2010.

It holds a 45 seat majority over the Green Party in second which took all three seats in the Highbury ward.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill has been re-elected in Mid-Ulster

Friday 6 May 2022 15:44 , Barney Davis

Michelle O’Neill was greeted with cheers and surrounded by party colleagues and supporters as the result was announced in the Magherafelt count centre.

Ms O’Neill received 10,845 first preference votes.

Speaking to reporters shortly before her election was announced, she said: “I feel very positive. We felt a very positive campaign.”

She said that Sinn Fein wanted to “together work in partnership with others”.

“That is the only way we will achieve much much more for people here, whether in terms of the cost-of-living crisis or trying to fix our health service”.

Rohksana Fiaz re-named as Newham Mayor

Friday 6 May 2022 15:37 , Barney Davis

Rohksana Fiaz has won the Newham Mayoral election with 35,696 votes ahead of Conservative candidate Attic Rahman with 7,390 votes; while third placed Green candidate Robert Callender increased the party’s share with 7,003 votes.

The overall turnout was just over 28 per cent.

Fiaz was re-elected with a lower percentage share than in 2018.

Plymouth’s first trans councillor hopes to ‘dial down hate and division’

Friday 6 May 2022 15:31 , Barney Davis

Dylan Tippetts has said he hopes his election will “dial down hate and division” after becoming Plymouth’s first openly trans councillor.

The 21-year-old is Labour’s first councillor in the city’s Compton Ward.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Tippetts said he is “still in shock”, adding: “I didn’t think I was going to win the seat last night.

“If I can help someone realise that trans people are just normal human beings like everyone else, with the same hopes and dreams, (and) just help dial down some of the real hate and division at the moment, that would be incredible.

“It would be even more of an honour to show a young person who might be scared of coming out that everything’s going to be OK and everything that they want in life can come true.”

Another swing towards Labour in Worthing

Friday 6 May 2022 15:07 , Barney Davis

Labour has won control of Worthing in West Sussex, winning 10 seats to take its total to 23, with the Conservatives on 12 and one Independent. The council was previously under no overall control.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey’s joy at ‘political earthquake’

Friday 6 May 2022 14:58 , Barney Davis

The Liberal Democrats have gained control of the new Somerset unitary council. With 94 results declared, the party has won 56 seats on the 110-member authority.

Reacting to the news the Liberal Democrats have taken control of Somerset Council, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey told The Evening Standard: “This is a political earthquake stretching from Somerset to Cumbria, among rural communities fed up with being taken for granted by Boris Johnson and the Conservatives.

“Here in the West Country and across the UK, people are electing Liberal Democrats to be their strong local champions who will stand up for their health services, schools and farmers.

“The British people have put Conservative MPs on notice. If they don’t get rid of Boris Johnson and stop taking people for granted, Liberal Democrats are coming for them.”

“Our great country deserves so much better than Boris Johnson and his out-of-touch Conservative Government.”

Sir Ed Davey has been celebrating in Wimbledon Common (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)
Sir Ed Davey has been celebrating in Wimbledon Common (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

Sir Keir offers no comment amid Beergate investigation

Friday 6 May 2022 14:50 , Barney Davis

Sir Keir Starmer ignores reporters after it emerged the Labour Leader is to be investigated by police amid allegations he broke lockdown rules last year.

The Labour leader has come under pressure since footage emerged of him drinking a beer with colleagues in April 2021 in Durham during campaigning for the Hartlepool by-election.

He will be investigated after receipt of “significant new information”, Durham Constabulary said.

He declined to answer questions from reporters in Carlisle over the investigation on Friday afternoon following confirmation from police.

DUP MP expects elections to be ‘tight'

Friday 6 May 2022 14:32 , Daniel Keane

DUP MP Gavin Robinson said the Northern Ireland Assembly election is likely to be “tight”.

“Politics isn’t where we wish it to be,” he told the BBC, “so in a number of seats it is very tight.”

“It is true to say there are interesting dynamic shifts taking place under the surface outside of the big parties,” he said.

Sinn Feinn are expected to win a large number of seats as results come in from Northern Ireland this afternoon and evening.

Havering result delayed until Monday

Friday 6 May 2022 14:17 , Daniel Keane

The election result for Havering in east London will not be known until Monday because of a recount in the Rainham & Wennington ward, the council said.

The Conservatives have taken 20 seats so far, Labour nine, and residents and ratepayers 23, with three wards still to come.

Cooper: ‘Beergate’ nothing like Downing St parties

Friday 6 May 2022 14:11 , Daniel Keane

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World At One programme, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper defended the Labour leader and said the Durham incident was "very different from what we saw in Government".

She said: "The Labour Party has always been clear that no rules were broken. This was a work event, it was in the middle of a local election campaign and it was eating a meal in an election campaign.

"I think that's very different from what we saw in the Government where you had the very people who were making the rules, the very people who were asking people to make great sacrifices across the country - and we've seen the evidence of the parties.

"That's why we've been so clear about challenging the Government on that, but... it's not appropriate for me as shadow home secretary to comment on decisions by police forces - they have a particular job to do."

Local elections 2022: The results so far

Friday 6 May 2022 13:55 , Daniel Keane

Police to investigate Starmer over ‘beergate'

Friday 6 May 2022 13:40 , Daniel Keane

Durham Police will open an investigation into whether Sir Keir Starmer broke Covid regulations when he drank beer indoors with colleagues in April last year.

The force has previously said it does not believe that the Labour leader broke the rules when he had a takeaway and drank beer with colleagues in the run-up to the Hartlepool by-election on April 30.

In a statement, Durham Police said it had received “significant new information” in recent days and reviewed its position. “We can confirm that an investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations relating to this gathering is now being conducted,” they said.

Route to Downing St is through London, says Khan

Friday 6 May 2022 13:22 , Daniel Keane

Sadiq Khan said Labour’s route to 10 Downing Street is “through London” as he praised Sir Keir Starmer for tackling antisemitism in the party.

Speaking in Westminster where Labour took control of the council, the London Mayor told the PA news agency: “I think Keir (Starmer) over the last few years has made huge progress in root-and-branch reform, getting rid of those who are antisemitic, putting forward a positive vision, being pro-business, we’re on the side of hard working families.

“In this borough there are seats we need to win to form a Labour government, in Barnet there are seats we need to win to form a Labour government.

“The route for us to get to 10 Downing Street is through London.”

Tories lose overall control of Wokingham

Friday 6 May 2022 13:11 , Daniel Keane

Wokingham Borough Council is now under no overall control, in a huge loss for the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats have gained five seats in the area, in what could be a troubling sign for constituency Tory MP Sir John Redwood.

Early results in Scotland ‘really disappointing’ for Tories, admits MSP

Friday 6 May 2022 13:01 , Daniel Keane

Early results for the Scottish Conservatives in local elections have been “really disappointing”, one of the party’s frontbenchers at Holyrood said, adding the Tories will “lick our wounds and move on”.

Speaking to the PA news agency from the Edinburgh count, Miles Briggs said the party has suffered from protest votes – with some supporters choosing to stay at home rather than back the Tories at the ballot box.

He also said the partygate saga, which saw the Prime Minister, his wife and Chancellor Rishi Sunak fined for a Downing Street gathering during lockdown, was partially responsible for the drop in support.

“Some seats which we won five years ago we are now holding, which is really good to see,” he said.

“There’s some good news but it’s really disappointing.

“From the work I did yesterday with my activists here in Edinburgh, it’s quite clear that people weren’t going to go to vote.”

‘Time for PM to go’, says veteran Tory

Friday 6 May 2022 12:41 , Daniel Keane

Veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the time has come for Boris Johnson to go following a poor set of results in the local elections.

He said: "I was, as you know, not in favour of a leadership challenge in the middle of a war, but two things have happened: one, it's now clear, I think, that the hostilities in Ukraine are going to be prolonged; and second, in a sense what Roger Gale thinks is immaterial because this movement has got a life of its own now - it may become an unstoppable tide."

Asked if he would say it was now time for Mr Johnson to go, regardless of whether an "interim administration" could be established in light of the Ukraine crisis, Sir Roger said: "Yes. I think so. I would."

Pictured: PM poses with his portrait of the Queen at Ruislip school

Friday 6 May 2022 12:32 , Daniel Keane

 (PA)
(PA)

Sir Keir Starmer: Labour back on track for general election after 'astonishing' local elections

Friday 6 May 2022 12:18 , Daniel Keane

Labour results ‘underwhelming’, say Momentum

Friday 6 May 2022 12:08 , Daniel Keane

The Labour party’s results in the local elections have been “underwhelming”, left-wing campaign group Momentum has said.

Mish Rahman, a member of Labour’s National Executive Committee, said: “From partygate to the Tory cost-of-living crisis, these local elections were a golden opportunity for Labour.

“We’re delighted by gains in London, where Momentum members played a key role on the ground and as candidates, but these first results from the rest of England are distinctly underwhelming.”

PM admits ‘tough night’ for Tories

Friday 6 May 2022 11:53 , Daniel Keane

Prime minister Boris Johnson has admitted that the Conservatives had a “tough night” at the local elections.

Asked by broadcasters during a visit to a school in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency if he took responsibility for the results, Mr Johnson said: "Of course".

He added: "It is mid-term. It's certainly a mixed set of results.

"We had a tough night in some parts of the country but on the other hand in other parts of the country you are still seeing Conservatives going forward and making quite remarkable gains in places that haven't voted Conservative for a long time, if ever."

‘Tectonic plates of politics are shifting’, says Davey

Friday 6 May 2022 11:40 , Daniel Keane

Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has told supporters gathered in Wimbledon that the “tectonic plates of British politics are shifting” as he hailed his party’s success in the area.

”I think the tectonic plates of British politic are shifting and now it is up to Conservative MPs to shove the Prime Minister into the abyss,” he added.

Britons trust Labour over Tories in all policy areas - poll

Friday 6 May 2022 11:32 , Daniel Keane

Some encouraging news for the Labour party as a poll reveals they are more trusted than the Conservatives on every single policy area.

This includes the NHS, the economy and tackling crime.

The poll, conducted by Redfield and Wilton Strategies, found that just under a fifth (19 per cent) of Britons trust the Conservatives with the NHS, while around a quarter (24 per cent) trust the party to tackle crime.

This compares with 44 per cent and 34 per cent for Labour respectively.

Opposition to LTNs were ‘dog that didn’t bark in London elections’

Friday 6 May 2022 11:21 , Josh Salisbury

Opposition to Low Traffic Neighbourhoods could be seen as the “dog that didn’t bark”, a thinktank chief has suggested.

While Enfield’s Labour group, which provoked criticism from some residents after introducing LTNs, had its overall majority cut from 29 to 13 seats, in other areas of the capital, candidates standing on anti-LTN platforms failed to make much headway.

Nick Bowes, chief executive of the Centre for London thinktank, said that opposition to LTNs “seemed like the dog that didn’t bark” and could embolden councils to accelerate projects that reallocated road space away from vehicles.

Read the full story here.

London Tory MP: Confidence may be restored with change in leader or change of plan

Friday 6 May 2022 11:08 , Josh Salisbury

Conservative MP David Simmonds said confidence may be restored in the Government through a change in leader.

The MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner has said his party must ensure it is acting “in the interests of the country” after it lost a number of flagship councils in the capital.

However, he suggested a leadership change was not the only option, adding that the PM “deserves the chance to show that he’s got some ideas - and I look forward to hearing what they are”.

Mr Simmonds told the PA news agency that Mr Johnson pledged he would take “full responsibility” for the local election results, and he “needs to address that”.

“He needs to find a way to restore confidence in the Government and I think there’s a number of ways he might do that,” he said.

“A change of leader would be one of them. Alternatively he needs to demonstrate what the alternative plan would be.”

Recap: Labour takes key London councils but makes modest gains elsewhere

Friday 6 May 2022 11:04 , Josh Salisbury

If you are just joining us, one of the key stories of the elections so far is Labour’s gains in London - but early indications suggest the party’s performance has been much more modest outside the capital.

Labour seized three Tory prized town halls in London on Friday in blows to Boris Johnson as he fights to remain Prime Minister - Wandsworth, Westminster, and Barnet.

However, outside the capital, early results showed Labour not making gains which could give Sir Keir Starmer confidence that he has the door to No10 firmly within his sights.

Sir Keir’s party also lost Hull to the Liberal Democrats who by early Friday morning were making more gains across the country than Labour.

Read the full story here.

Government would honour Northern Ireland border poll if ‘sustained majority’ wants it - Tory chair

Friday 6 May 2022 10:57 , Josh Salisbury

Tory party chair Oliver Dowden said the UK government will honour the constitutional obligation to hold a border poll on the future of Northern Ireland if “there is a sustained majority” in favour of unification.

Mr Dowden’s comments come as polls predict that Sinn Fein could be returned as the Northern Ireland Assembly’s biggest party.

If the Republican party were to win, it would have the right to nominate the First Minister for the first time since the Northern Ireland power sharing executive was created as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

However, Mr Dowden insisted it was too early to talk of the possibility of a border poll, but conceded on Sky News: “If there is a sustained majority nationalist opinion in favour of a united Ireland that would have to be put forward in a referendum.”

Read the full story here.

Lib Dems hail ‘big gains’ as leader dismisses general election pact

Friday 6 May 2022 10:36 , Josh Salisbury

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has celebrated his party's “big gains”, which he said were because of voters seeking an alternative to the Conservatives amid cost-of-living concerns.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “We're making big gains from the Conservatives, gains that I think we can turn into seats in the next election.

“I said that people could use their vote to send a message to Boris Johnson that he's not providing the leadership on the cost-of-living emergency, which is really the issue on the doorsteps that I found, and I think the real situation here is the economy is in a real mess, the Conservatives have failed to provide that leadership and people are turning to the Liberal Democrats for an alternative party".

He added: “The dissatisfaction amongst lifelong Conservatives with the Prime Minister was really palpable, they don't think he's a decent man”.

Sir Ed dismissed the idea of a pact with the Labour Party to defeat the Tories at the next general election.

Labour share of vote up in London but down in north - BBC

Friday 6 May 2022 10:30 , Josh Salisbury

According to figures from the BBC, Labour’s share of the vote is up in London by down in the north, while the Tory share of the vote is down in both reigons by a greater amount.

The figures show change from 2018, which is when the seats were last up for election.

In London, the broadcaster says Labour’s share of the vote has increased by +2, Con -4, Lib Dems +2 and Greens +2.

Meanwhile, in the north of England, it calculates the change in vote share as being Labour -2, Con -3, Lib Dems -0.2 and Greens +3.

Govt ‘can make the case for Northern Ireland remaining in UK’

Friday 6 May 2022 10:09 , Daniel Keane

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said he is confident the Government can "make the case" for Northern Ireland remaining in the UK if Sinn Fein is victorious in the Stormont Assembly election.

Asked on Sky News whether Boris Johnson could become the Prime Minister who oversees the break-up of the United Kingdom, Mr Dowden said: "Let's wait and see what the results are from Northern Ireland.

"If there is a sustained majority of nationalist opinion in favour of a united Ireland, that would have to be put forward in a referendum

"That's beyond the power of the United Kingdom Government. We would have to allow that to happen were it the case".

Barnet result is ‘warning shot’, says Tories

Friday 6 May 2022 09:53 , Daniel Keane

The Conservative leader of Barnet in north London, Daniel Johnson, said his party had lost control of the council, where they had 36 of the 63 seats going into Thursday's election.

"I think this is a warning shot from Conservative supporters and I think our loss today is not only due to the fact that I have just mentioned but also a fair number of Conservative voters who just didn't go out to vote, stayed at home,” he said.

He added: “Clearly if Labour are to get a majority in Parliament they need to win Barnet.

“They won the council, if they win our parliamentary constituencies as well, then it doesn't bode well for us to form a Government in future general elections.”

Labour: Tory MPs should be 'very, very worried' about local election results

Friday 6 May 2022 09:39 , Daniel Keane

Labour: We made gains due to cost of living

Friday 6 May 2022 09:28 , Daniel Keane

Shabana Mahmood MP, Labour's national campaign co-ordinator, said her party made gains in the local elections because it offered an alternative on the cost of living.

She told LBC radio: "I think it is the cost-of-living crisis that is the key issue facing every household in the country - that is the issue on which the Conservative Party and Boris Johnson in particular have failed to offer anything to the voters of this country.

"And I think the Labour Party has had a solid showing in the results that we've seen coming in so far in these local elections because we've had an alternative to offer."

She added she is "quite happy for them (the Conservatives) to steal our ideas and make them law".

I’ve never bought a tin of beans, says Dowden

Friday 6 May 2022 09:17 , Daniel Keane

The Conservative Party chairman claimed he has never bought a tin of beans.

Asked by LBC whether he agreed with Environment Secretary George Eustice’s appeal to Britons to buy value brand foods in supermarkets, Oliver Dowden said: “ I'm afraid I rarely get the opportunity to go to the shops, given my extensive duties as chairman of the Conservative Party, but when I pop down to my local Tesco's, of course I buy own-brand products.

"I wouldn't know the price of a tin of baked beans - I'll tell you why, I have never liked baked beans. I've never purchased a tin of baked beans in my entire life."

He got the price of a pint of milk about right, guessing at "around 50p".

Recap: The key results so far

Friday 6 May 2022 09:04 , Daniel Keane

As of 9am, the general consensus in Westminster remains that, while the Tories have suffered historic defeats in London, the Labour party have failed to make achieve significant breakthroughs in the red wall.

Here’s a recap of the key results so far:

- Labour took control of Wandsworth, which had been under Tory control since 1978

- Sir Keir Starmer’s party also won in Westminster for the first time since 1968, as well as Barnet in North London

- Labour also won a comfortable majority in the newly-created authority of Cumberland, which covers the former districts of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland in Cumbria

- However, Labour lost further councillors to the Tories in Nuneaton & Bedworth, in Warwickshire

- The Liberal Democrats have gained a wafer-thin majority in Hull, dislodging Labour who had run the council since 2011

- The Conservatives are still ahead in Derby with 16 seats, with Labour on 16 and the Lib Dems on 8

Starmer: Victory in Barnet proves our clampdown on antisemitism

Friday 6 May 2022 08:52 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that Labour’s victory in Barnet - an area with a large Jewish population - was evidence of his party’s clampdown on antisemitism.

He told supporters: “My first words as leader of our party, when I took over in April 2020, was that we were going to root out antisemitism from our party, not tolerate it any more in our party, change our party.

"I said the test of that will be whether voters trust us again in places like Barnet, and they've done it.

“That is your hard work, that is the change we've collectively brought about in our Labour Party, the trust that we're building, putting us on the road to Number 10, on the road to that general election.

"That change these last two years has been really hard for us as a party, but we've done it, we've built those solid foundations, we've won here in Barnet, we've won across London, we're winning from coast to coast."

London MP says PM has ‘difficult questions’ to answer after capital defeat

Friday 6 May 2022 08:44 , Daniel Keane

Conservative MP David Simmonds said Boris Johnson has some "difficult questions" to answer after the party's losses in the local elections.

The MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner told the BBC: “It was a pretty clear message on the doorstep. Clearly the Prime Minister has got some difficult questions to answer.

"Overwhelmingly the message that I heard on the doorsteps was people were broadly positive about the Government's policies but they are not happy about what they have been hearing about partygate.

"He said, 'I will take full responsibility for these election results', and I think he needs to confront that question now.”

London results ‘astonishing’, says Starmer

Friday 6 May 2022 08:37 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir Starmer said that Labour’s performance in London was “astonishing”.

He told supporters gathered in Barnet: “What brilliant teams we’ve got, all the fantastic work we’ve put in.

“When it comes to London, you can hardly believe those names come off our lips. Wandsworth! They’ve been saying for years.

“You’ll never take Wandsworth from us. We’ve just done it! Westminster! It’s an astonishing result.”

Pictured: Starmer arrives to cheers at Barnet polling station

Friday 6 May 2022 08:30 , Daniel Keane

 (Nigel Howard)
(Nigel Howard)
 (PA)
(PA)

Starmer hails ‘massive results’ in London

Friday 6 May 2022 08:19 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir Starmer hailed Labour’s “massive” results as he visited a polling station in Barnet - where his party secured a historic victory.

The Labour leader said: “A huge thank you to everyone who campaigned.

“We have turned a massive corner in the Labour party. We’re winning in London, we’re winning in Southampton and there’s more to come.

“We are back on track for the general election. Cumberland is a big win last night, as is Southampton.”

Labour vote ‘down slightly outside London'

Friday 6 May 2022 08:10 , Daniel Keane

Sir John was asked whether Labour had not performed as well as they had expected in areas outside London.

He told the BBC: “I think that has to be said. The Labour Party has been wanting to argue throughout the night that these local election results clearly demonstrate evidence of progress.

“Now, in London that is true. It looks as though Labour’s vote is up by about a point as compared with 2018 and they did pretty well in London in 2018 and London will now be even more clearly very much a one party Labour fiefdom.

“But outside of London as compared with 2018 when the seats were last contested, it looks as though Labour’s vote is actually down slightly.”

Pollster admits Tory loss but says results were ‘expected'

Friday 6 May 2022 07:59 , Daniel Keane

Veteran pollster Sir John Curtice says the Tories have “suffered a loss” at the local elections but the party’s results were largely in line with what they had predicted.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “The truth is the Conservatives have suffered more or less the kind of support that we might have anticipated given the evidence of the opinion polls, they are down by about four points in the sample of wards where we have been collecting the detailed voting figures overnight, and down by as much as six points as compared with last year.

“So don’t let anybody run away with the idea that the Conservatives haven’t suffered a loss. They have done. Indeed they have now lost 120 seats and indeed the news has just come through that not only have they lost Wandsworth and Barnet in London but they have now also lost Westminster which was perhaps a council theft would have hoped to hang on to.”

Sir Ed Davey hails Lib Dem results in London and South East

Friday 6 May 2022 07:52 , Daniel Keane

Sir Ed Davey has hailed the Liberal Democrat’s results in London and South East England.

He told Sky News: “Our victories are in seats that we can take at the next general election. In the constituences which will decide whether Boris Johnson remains prime minister, the Lib Dems are taking.

“This is the party that can remove a Tory MP or councillor in important areas. The Conservatives are failing.”

He said that the public was “angry” that Tory MPs had “failed to sack Boris Johnson” over partygate.

Dowden: I don’t believe PM misled parliament over partygate

Friday 6 May 2022 07:44 , Daniel Keane

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden has defended Boris Johnson over the partygate scandal and accusations he misled Parliament.

Mr Dowden told Sky News: "I don't actually believe that he misled Parliament, I think he gave a very clear explanation of that.

"And what he said at the time in Parliament, he genuinely believed to be the case...

"I don't for a moment resile from my anger and frustration about what happened in Downing Street and I think the Prime Minister has rightly shown remorse over that and he feels frustration about it as well.

"I have accepted what he said in respect of that because I believe that we need to balance that against his considerable achievements".

Wandsworth Tory MP puts defeat down to national issues

Friday 6 May 2022 07:38 , Daniel Keane

Tory Ravi Govindia, who led the Wandsworth council for 11 years, told the Standard that national issues, including the cost of living crisis, were “not something one could hide away from” and were partly to blame for the "disappointing" result.

He said he believed a combination of “micro local” and national issues impacted the result which saw the former Tory flagship borough change hands for the first time in 44 years, writes Elly Blake.

“It was both. There were certainly in, some areas, micro-local issues and they probably affected people’s judgement. And yes, of course, national issues.

“People have balanced national against local issues and come to a view, which I’m sorry it has come to the result it has. I’m disappointed for colleagues who have lost seats and were hoping to become councillors. It’s time to go to bed”.

Tories should ‘stick with Boris’ despite London defeat, says party chairman

Friday 6 May 2022 07:31 , Daniel Keane

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden has put Conservative losses at the local elections down to mid-term challenges and said the Prime Minister is the right person to lead the party into the next general election.

He told Sky News: "I think looking at the picture of the results so far, they demonstrate that whilst there have been difficult results, they are consistent with what you'd expect with us from mid-term.

"Labour are certainly not on the path to power and I believe that Boris Johnson does have the leadership skills, in particular the energy and the dynamism that we need during this difficult period of time.

"So no, I don't think we should remove Boris Johnson as our prime minister, I think we should stick with him".

Local elections 2022: The results so far

Friday 6 May 2022 07:26 , Daniel Keane

Greens pleased with results in London and elsewhere

Friday 6 May 2022 07:16 , Daniel Keane

Greens co-leader Adrian Ramsay said local election results showed the party was now a "credible alternative to the establishment parties".

He added: "The Green Party has now made breakthrough gains three elections running and we are expecting that trajectory to continue as people increasingly vote for candidates who listen, work hard on local issues, and are serious about the climate emergency."

Former No10 chief of staff mourns loss of ‘flagship’ London councils

Friday 6 May 2022 07:06 , Daniel Keane

Gavin Barwell, No10’s former chief of staff, has said the loss of Westminster and Wandsworth Council should be a “wake up call” for the Tories.

He tweeted: “Waking up to catastrophic results for the party in London. Wandsworth & Westminster were flagship councils. We held them during the Blair honeymoon. We held them during austerity.

“We held them under Theresa May. Losing them should be a wake up call for the Conservative Party.”

‘People were fed up’, says Westminster’s new Labour leader

Friday 6 May 2022 06:58 , Daniel Keane

Adam Hug, the new Labour leader in Westminster, has been speaking to Jonathan Prynn at this morning’s count following his historic win.

He told the Standard:”We were always cautiously optimistic that we would make gains and we felt that with the right wind behind us we could make history.

“We have worked very hard and given it our best shot and succeeded.

“People were fed up with the way the council treated them, the Marble Arch Mound came up a lot.

“On top of that there were the national issues – cost of living and Boris and the way he’s behaved.

“I’m tired but very elated. Once I’ve had a sleep we will get on with our programme and work very hard for the people of Westminster.”

Huge Lib Dem gains in Richmond

Friday 6 May 2022 06:53 , Daniel Keane

The Lib Dems are making huge gains in Richmond, winning 48 seats.

The party have gained nine new councillors in the South West London area following yesterday’s elections.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have dropped from eleven councillors to just one.

‘Clarion bell should ring in No10’, says Wimbledon MP

Friday 6 May 2022 06:48 , Daniel Keane

Stephen Hammond, the Tory MP for Wimbledon, said that the cost of living crisis and partygate were issues on the doorstep in the South West London suburb.

He told the BBC: "It is clear that I am afraid that the 'partygate' factor has been a large influence on the voting.

"There was a lot of analysis done prior to these elections saying 'watch for problems for the Conservative Party in these elections because of low turnout'.

"Actually what you have seen in a number of my wards tonight is high turnout and unfortunately it is angry Tories turning out at voting away from where they would normally do so and thought ought to be a clarion bell ringing very loudly in No 10 Downing Street."

Tories cling on in Chiswick

Friday 6 May 2022 06:36 , Daniel Keane

Over in West London, the Tories have retained two of the three Chiswick wards in Hounslow.

In Homefields veteran John Todd topped the poll. Despite reports that Tories might lose one of their three seats to Labour in newly constituted Chiswick Riverside ward, the three outgoing Conservatives held on.

Tory Cllr Jon Mushiso said it had “given them a mandate to review the cycle lane “- a controversial local issue.

‘We will work to build a fairer Westminster’, says Labour

Friday 6 May 2022 06:26 , Daniel Keane

Westminster’s Labour leader has thanked residents for “putting their faith” in the party after it took control of the area for the first time.

Adam Hug tweeted: “The residents of Westminster have put their faith in Labour to lead the council. It is an honour and a privilege.

“We will work every day to build a fairer Westminster.”

Barnet campaign ‘a mixture of national and local’ issues

Friday 6 May 2022 06:21 , Daniel Keane

Barnet’s new Labour leader Barry Rawlings tells my colleague Robert Dex that the campaign was “a mixture of national and local”.

He said: “We had a very good team, very good messaging, we went out and did the work, walked the streets and knocked the doors so a lot of it is a local success but I won’t lie the national situation makes a difference.”

He said his conservative opponents lost voters ‘who felt alienated from the party” over the Partygate scandal.

He added: “I think people felt it isn’t the Conservative Party they wanted. They believe in the rule of law and people obeying the law.”

Lib Dems having ‘a great night’, says deputy leader

Friday 6 May 2022 06:13 , Daniel Keane

Some reaction just in from the Lib Dems, who say they are having a “great night” after making gains in the south of England.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “We’re making progress all over the country - building on our historic by-election victories last year.

“We have already taken seats off the Conservatives in Blue Wall areas like Cheadle, and taken control of Hull Council from Labour.

“From Colchester to Hull, from Wimbledon to Gosport, more and more communities are choosing Liberal Democrats to be their local champions and fight for a fair deal for them.

“People across the UK are fed up with being ignored and taken for granted by Boris Johnson and the Conservatives.

“It’s clear that, in many parts of the country, it is the Liberal Democrats who can defeat the Conservatives and get Boris Johnson out of Downing Street.”

Labour on brink of victory in Westminster after taking Hyde Park seats

Friday 6 May 2022 06:05 , Daniel Keane

Labour are now on the brink of a stunning win in Westminster after taking all three Hyde Park council seats, according to my colleague Jonathan Prynn.

The party HQ has already declared victory - but we are yet to hear anything from the Tories.

PM’s integrity an issue for voters, says ousted Tory

Friday 6 May 2022 05:59 , Daniel Keane

Some reaction to this morning’s results from the Conservative party suggest frustration among Boris Johnson’s councillors.

John Mallinson, leader of Carlisle City Council hit out after Labour took control of the new Cumberland authority which will replace it.

He told the BBC: "I think it is not just partygate, there is the integrity issue.

"Basically I just don't feel people any longer have the confidence that the Prime Minister can be relied upon to tell the truth."

Labour declare victory in Westminster

Friday 6 May 2022 05:50 , Daniel Keane

Labour HQ have declared victory in Westminster in what would be a sensational victory for the party.

It comes after the party took one of the seats in the Little Venice ward from the Conservatives, as per my colleague Jonathan Prynn who is at the count.

All three seats in the Bayswater ward have also gone to Labour.

Labour take control of Barnet for first time in history

Friday 6 May 2022 05:43 , Daniel Keane

My colleague Robert Dex is at the scene in Barnet, where Labour has won control for the first time in its history.

They took control of the council just over ten minutes ago with votes still to be declared in wards they expect to win,

The council’s outgoing conservative leader Councillor Daniel Thomas said his party had been caught in “a perfect storm” as Labour inched closer to taking overall control of the borough.

He said: “We’ve been 12 years in government, the cost of living crisis, Partygate and I think those three factors are why we are having such a bad night.”

He said he would reserve judgement on the Prime Minister’s future until the full national picture emerged but said his party had lost good councillors because of the governments unpopularity.

Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website