Well done to Liberal Democrat local campaigners up and down the country for some terrific results which continue to come in this morning:
- BBC are estimating the Liberal Democrats beating Labour in the notional national share of the vote with 25% for the Lib Dems.
- Lib Dems have taken control of Burnley in addition to St Albans and Hull
- We have successfully defended control of Newcastle, Watford, Three Rivers this morning, as well as Stockport, Cambridge, Eastleigh and Rochdale last night.
- Liverpool remains in Lib Dem hands as an independent joins the group to maintain our majority.
Liberal Democrats making gains so far include:
- 6 Gains in Merthyr Tydfil as Labour lose control (including unseating the Labour leader!
- 5 Gains in Burnley (to take control) Stratford-upon-Avon, Hull (to take control) and Gosport (to deprive the tories of control)
- 4 gains in Oldham (to become the largest party), Derby (to become the largest party) and Colchester (where the tories lose control).
- 3 gains in Newcastle, Knowlsey and in Cheltenham where we become the largest Party. Three gains in Cardiff where we are already the largest party.
- In Purbeck to Tories have lost control and are level pegging with the Lib Dems, in Exeter we are now the largest Party.
There was disappointment in Oldham, Warrington, North East Lincolnshire and Cheltenham where we missed out on control by just one seat.
In the new Durham Unitary Authority, we made a stunning 17 gains from the Press Association “notional” figures to give us 27 Councillors.
Less good news in West Lindsey where we lost the Council to the Conservatives, and in Pendle where we have lost control of the Council.
The scores at 1.00pm
- Conservative + 184 Councillors to 2356
- Labour – 214 Councillors to 1796
- Lib Dems + 20 Councillors to 1372