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WorldSeven key discussion points surround the results of the local elections

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Seven key discussion points surround the results of the local elections

The municipal elections, which have 8,000 seats, can sound frightening, but here’s what you need to know

Updates on the local elections in England have been coming in since the polls closed at 10 p.m. last night, starting in the early morning hours.

With the typical excitement of every democratic vote in the UK come large gains—some unexpected, others predicted.

This year, the local elections were set against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine and the lingering impact of the Covid pandemic.

But what were the key takeaways?

Blue Wall loses several bricks 

Labour stormed through Tory heartland to make gains described as ‘hugely significant’ by Sir Keir.

Medway was among the local authority areas painted red, with Labour set to run the Kent council for the first time since 1998.

The party also gained East Staffordshire, where four years ago the Tories picked up a mighty 25 seats, when Labour was left with just 10. 

Sir Keir told said ‘road to a better Britain’ begins now and will be ‘paved with Labour wins’.

He added: ‘We all know there’s no place for letting up. Let’s never mistake confidence for complacency.

‘But we are going to bottle this feeling we have today and then we’re going to turn it into a general election win next year.’

The Conservatives suffered huge losses in what has been Rishi Sunak’s first electoral test since being handed the keys to No 10.

They lost control of the likes of Welwyn Hatfield – in Energy Secretary Grant Shapps’ constituency – where both the Lib Dems and Labour made gains.

But the Prime Minister maintained that ‘progress’ is still being made for his party.

He told Sky News: ‘‘It’s always disappointing to lose hard-working Conservative councillors, they’re friends, they’re colleagues and I’m so grateful to them for everything they’ve done.

‘In terms of the results, it’s still early, we’ve just had a quarter of the results in, but what I am going to carry on doing is delivering on the people’s priorities – halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats. ‘That’s what people want us to do, that’s what I’m going to keep hard at doing.’

No ID, no vote

Last night, the elections watchdog said ‘regrettably’ some people were turned away from polling stations.

The local elections were the first of its kind to be carried out under new rules which required voters to carry photographic ID.

Critics say the move could discourage young people and disenfranchise minority voters, both of which are likely to be Labour voters.

Gillian Long, 42, said ID requirements are ‘a load of rubbish’ after she was stopped from voting by an administration error between her ID and the registration system in East Riding, Yorkshire.

Ms Long said her address ‘wasn’t down right on their system’ and fumed ‘If you want people to vote, you should make it as easy as possible, and they’ve added a barrier.’

Green history

The Green Party has secured sole control of an English council for the very first time.

They currently have the 18 seats on Mid Suffolk District Council needed for majority on the 34-seat authority, with four wards yet to declare.

Previously, the local authority was run by a 16-seat minority Conservative administration.

Andy Mellen, leader of the Green Party in Mid Suffolk, said: ‘We are looking forward to getting to work.’

The Green Party’s co-leader in England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, said the party had seen ‘fantastic results’ in both rural and urban areas, winning seats from Labour as well as the Conservatives.

He added the victory in Mid Suffolk would ‘pave the way for electing the first Green MP in the area as well to really represent people on a national stage as well as locally’.

What about Scotland?

While Scotland is dealing with ample political drama of its own, it did not host any local elections yesterday.

But party members north of the border still kept a close eye on today’s unfolding proceedings.

Some results suggest, based of current results, Labour will win the next general election, but without an overall majority.

Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said this shows Scots should vote SNP so Scotland can ‘pull the strings’ of a minority UK government. 

In a statement he said: ‘It’s increasingly clear that the SNP can hold the balance of power after the next general election – putting Scotland in prime position to pull the strings of a minority UK government.

‘Voting SNP is the best way to beat the Tories in Scotland – and every vote for the SNP will be crucial to ensure Scotland wields real power and influence.’

But the rise of Labour’s popularity in England could sway voters away from the SNP, which has been tarnished by the ongoing investigation into the party’s finances.

Young minds of the future

A teenager only just able to vote has become of the country’s youngest councillors – and stolen the seat of his town’s mayor in the process. Labour in Redditch picked up six seats – including in Church Hill, where 18-year-old James Fardoe claimed the scalp of Tory Ann Isherwood.

His brother Jack wrote on Twitter: ‘Well done to my brother James Fardoe, who was elected in Church Hill in Redditch. Not only did he beat the incumbent mayor, but he is only 18.’

Reacting to his victory on Facebook, James wrote: ‘I would like to thank my opponent, Ann Isherwood, for all her work over the past four years, it was an honour to run against you and once again thank you for your hard work. I would also like to thank all of the Redditch Labour Party and all the volunteers that helped me in Church Hill, I appreciate all the support everyone gave me in this election.

‘I would lastly like to thank everyone who went out to vote yesterday, not just for Labour but all the other parties, who put their trust in democracy and the candidates.’

The newly-elected councillor campaigned for more parking spaces, more youth facilities and more support for local businesses.

Are the Tories really doomed at the next general election? Or could Keir’s lack of star power undermine his party’s efforts?

Republican wave

King Charles may have missed the majority of local election updates, as he is slightly busy with Coronation preparations today.

But there have been interest results in the ward of Highgrove House, the family residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which lies in the Cotswold District Council ward. 

Liberal Democrat Chris Twells believes the country should follow the Irish model of a republic, has been elected to represent the Tetbury with Upton ward.

But he has faced calls to quit his seat in north-west England after winning a second election 160 miles away in Gloucestershire.

Mr Twells beat the Conservatives by 60 votes to secure the Tetbury with Upton ward a mere 12 months after he defeated Labour to gain the Ordsall ward for the Lib Dems at Salford City Council, Greater Manchester.

He is expected to stand down from the latte role

Dogs out in full force 

While newshounds have stayed up all night to cover the results of the election, during the day it was an army of dogs who helped encourage people to vote.

As is British tradition, voters snap pics of their pups outside polling stations.

Many were shared to Twitter with the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations.

Regardless of your politics, I’m sure we can all agree that there were a great selection of very good boys out in full force.

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