Tories gain ground in local elections as Ukip faces wipeout
Initial results show Conservatives on course for victory, while Labour and Ukip sustain heavy losses
The Tories are on track for an emphatic victory across England and Wales as counting continues in local and mayoral elections.
Both Labour and Ukip have sustained heavy losses in a number of English councils, with Ukip losing every seat it held so far.
John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told the BBC the party has "done remarkably badly" and that Jeremy Corbyn's Labour has experienced its "worst result" since the 2010 general election.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Former Ukip leadership candidate Lisa Duffy told BBC Radio 4 the result was "challenging".
She said: "I won't use the word 'disaster'; I'll use the word 'challenging.' We knew it was going to be a difficult night."
The Guardian reports on the results from ten councils in England that have been declared so far, with Dorset, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Lincolnshire, Somerset and Warwickshire going to the Conservatives and Cumbria having no overall control.
The results for Labour are similar in Wales, with council seats heading to the Conservatives, alongside a surge in independent candidates.
However, the party's Ros Jones easily retained her position of mayor of Doncaster, securing 57.9 per cent of the vote.
In West of England, where the mayoral fight went to second preferences, Conservative Tim Bowles (70,300) narrowly edged out Labour's Lesley Mansell (65,923).
Counting in all 32 Scottish councils is due to begin at 9am today, with results due around 11.30am.
The results so far greatly increase the prospect of "a sweeping Conservative General Election victory", says the Daily Telegraph.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'The double standards don't trouble the critics'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why are Democrats suddenly focused on Donald Trump's mental acuity?
Today's Big Question As Election Day looms, Kamala Harris and her allies are mounting a late-stage attack on the former president's mental health — but why now? And will it matter to voters?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Arizona official sues to bar 100K from local voting
Speed Read A large number of residents who have not submitted citizenship documents might be prevented from voting in the battleground state's elections
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published