Analysis4:19
Professor Sir John Curtice
Professor of politics at University of Strathclyde
Though some key results will only be counted on Saturday, the results of the local elections have for the most part been deeply disappointing for the Conservatives.
Some losses were inevitable. Most of the seats being elected on Thursday were previously contested in May 2021, when the Conservatives were six points ahead of Labour in the national polls.
Meanwhile, the detailed voting figures in 800 key wards collected by the BBC suggests the party’s local election performance is one of its worst ever.
However, Labour’s projected share has also fallen a point on last year to 34%, meaning the party’s nine point lead over their principal rivals has not changed.
Sir Keir Starmer has still not bettered the 38% Labour scored in 2012 under Ed Miliband’s leadership.