As local election results roll in across England, Labour and the Lib Dems are gaining ground at the expense of the Conservatives.
Former Labour strongholds Swindon, Plymouth, Medway, and Stoke-on-Trent were won by Labour.
Moreover, the Liberal Democrats have won control in the traditionally conservative Windsor and Maidenhead constituency.
Since becoming prime minister, Rishi Sunak’s electoral popularity is being put to its first major test in these elections.
A minority of councils tallied votes overnight, but results are still trickling in through Friday evening. However, the Conservatives have lost control of sixteen councils thus far.
The prime minister stated that losing Conservative councillors was disappointing, but added that his party was making gains in “key election battlegrounds” such as Peterborough, Sandwell, and Bassetlaw.
Robert Halfon, the minister of education, stated that this year’s election was always “going to be difficult” for his party.
He stated that internal Tory Party divisions “didn’t help” but attributed the losses to external factors, such as the cost-of-living crisis and problems within the NHS.
“Every government in the middle of its term, and particularly a government in power for 13 years, suffers losses in local elections,” he said.
However, he added that Mr. Sunak had “restored party unity” and “restored national stability, especially in the economy.”
Developing land
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, celebrated his party’s Kent council election victory in Medway with local activists.
“You didn’t just cross the finish line, you blew it out of the water,” he told the audience.
He stated that Labour was “on track” to gain a majority in the upcoming general election.
The Conservatives have lost control of three councils to the Labour Party, including Swindon. The council was a primary objective for Labour, and it was where the party initiated its election campaign.
Labour hasn’t won the council since 1999 and now wants the two Conservative-held parliamentary seats.
After a “groundbreaking night” for his party, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey was beaming like a Cheshire cat.
Sir Ed stated in Windsor, where his party seized control of the council from the Conservatives, “The Liberal Democrats are the clear winners of this year’s local elections.”
When Katy Perry and Lionel Richie enter Windsor Castle on Sunday for the coronation concert, they will be entering a constituency that is represented by three brand-new Liberal Democrat councillors, which makes me incredibly proud.
In Mid Suffolk, the Green Party hopes to gain outright control of its first council. Co-leader Carla Denyer said her party benefited from “a deep dislike of the Conservatives and Starmer’s uninspiring Labour.”
With only one constituency remaining to declare, the Greens are poised to become the largest party on East Hertfordshire Council by gaining 16 new seats. The Conservatives, who have governed the council since 1995, have lost 25 seats, leaving the council without a majority.
Results are still being announced, including the outcomes of three mayoral elections in Bedford, Leicester, and Mansfield.
Chris Cooke of Labour was elected mayor of Middlesbrough, defeating the incumbent independent candidate.
There are no elections in London, Scotland, or Wales. The coronation of King Charles III on Saturday delayed the Northern Ireland council elections for Thursday, May 18.
