The Lib Dems fell just one councillor short of getting their much-craved majority in Wokingham.
They have controlled the council for the past two years with no overall control but earlier their leader had expressed some cautious optimism for a better result.
It finished up with the Lib Dems on 27, the Conservatives on 19 and Labour with eight.
BreakingWokingham remains under no overall control
The Lib Dems finish on 27 in Wokingham, meaning they remain the largest party but without overall control.
BreakingDonna Jones re-elected as Hampshire PCC
Conservative Donna Jones has won another term as Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
BBC South’s Alex Meakin reports... "One ward to go here, Lib Dems need one more seat
to take overall control..."
Status quo at Oxford City Council
Olivia Wilson
Oxfordshire political reporter, BBC News
As we wait for the final
few ward results to be called, the mood is flat among Labour councillors who
have struggled to clinch back their previously held majority (from 2010-2023).
We can say with certainty now that a Labour minority administration will
continue.
The resignation of Labour councillors in October, in protest to Keir
Starmer not calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, has continued to impact the
political structure of Oxford City Council for another year.
'Lib Dems nervously sip their drinks'
Patrick O'Hagan
BBC Berkshire political reporter
The ongoing count at Wokingham is a window on the world
of that strangest of beasts, the local council election.
While a group of hyperactive five and six-year-olds throw
themselves around a softplay area at the London Valley leisure centre, the
sports hall right next door is watching something very different play out.
The tables here groan under the weight of the big black
ballot boxes which contain the votes that will decide the fate of the borough
council and who runs it.
There’s no cake on offer here but coffee cups are
everywhere as the Lib Dems nervously sip their drinks, hoping they’ll secure
enough votes to give them overall control of the council.
They need 28 of the 54 seats available to get them over
the line and give them what they crave most.
It’s looking a tough ask but
there’s a way to go yet. The birthday boy next door couldn’t care less, face
smeared in cream, he’s just trying to avoid his mum and the wet wipe heading his
way.
Good luck to him,
he’s had a long day but then so too have the men and women hoping their time in
the spotlight has arrived as well.
Conservatives set to lose hold on last Oxfordshire council
Bethan Nimmo
Political reporter, BBC Radio Oxford
It's
been a bruising day for the Conservatives here in Cherwell.
This
had been the very last council that the Tories were running in Oxfordshire -
albeit as a minority administration.
Compare that to a few years ago - up to
2019 - Oxfordshire was a real Tory stronghold across local government. They
held power in all the districts outside Oxford - and ran the county council as
well.
Now
- it doesn't look like they'll have the numbers to continue running things here
in Cherwell even as a minority.
That's
a big moment for Oxfordshire - no more councils run by the Conservatives.
It's
the Liberal Democrats that made significant gains here.
No-one's going to have an overall majority here at the end of the day. That means
there will be discussions going on in the next few hours, days and weeks as
parties work out if they can work together to take power.
But
the Liberal Democrats having made those gains will certainly be looking to be a
leading force in any coalition going forward.
'Glum and disappointed'
Olivia Wilson
Oxfordshire political reporter, BBC News
Labour councillors in Oxford are
looking incredibly glum and disappointed. So far they have failed to gain any
seats and lost two to the newly formed Independent Oxford Alliance, in
Littlemore and Lye Valley.
Results beginning to come through in Cherwell
Bethan Nimmo
Political reporter, Oxfordshire
After a long wait - the first results are coming in at
Cherwell District Council.
It’s been a nervous few hours in particular for the Conservatives.
They’re defending 11 of the 16 seats available and so
certainly have the most to lose.
They currently run the authority as a minority
administration but it’s likely by the end of the day they won’t have the
numbers to do that.
Counting underway in Wokingham
Anxious faces at Wokingham, with counting underway.
BBCCopyright: BBC
BreakingStill NOC in Basingstoke
Basingstoke and Deane remains a council of no overall control, despite the loss of seven seats for the Conservatives.
Labour gained one, the Lib Dems two and the Greens one.
Live Reporting
Sue Paz, Indy Almroth-Wright and Curtis Lancaster
All times stated are UK
BBCCopyright: BBC View more on twitterView more on twitter BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostAn eventful end to a dramatic day
With no further major developments expected in our region tonight we're ending our coverage for the day.
Thank you for following our updates.
Watch out for more coverage in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Hampshire over the weekend.
BreakingLib Dems win Dorset Council from Conservatives
The Liberal Democrats have won a majority in Dorset Council, taking over control from the Conservatives.
The Lib Dems gained 13 seats, meaning the party now holds 42 seats in the council, while the Conservatives lost 13 seats, dropping to 30.
No big changes in Oxfordshire after elections
The Conservatives have a bruising day and the Liberal Democrats make big gains.
Read moreDorset Council counting still going on...
Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England
There are some concerned looks among senior Conservative figures in Dorset where it looks like the Lib Dems may have won enough votes to take control.
BreakingCherwell District Council remains under no overall control
Bethan Nimmo
Political reporter, BBC Radio Oxford
Cherwell District Council remains No Overall Control – but there have been big gains for the Liberal Democrats.
They’ve won eight seats – gaining seven from the Conservative party, who had been running the authority as a minority administration.
Leader of the Liberal Democrat group David Hingley said: “We are now the largest party on Cherwell District Council for the first time ever.
"We are absolutely over the moon."
Havant council leader loses seat
Conservative leader of Havant Borough Council Alex Rennie has lost his West Leigh seat.
The results will see a major shake-up at the authority.
BreakingConservatives lose control of Havant
The Conservatives have lost their majority at Havant Borough Council.
They still finished with the most seats - 13 - but Labour won 10, the Lib Dems seven, the Greens got four and Reform finished on two.
No change in Reading after local elections
Labour maintains control of Reading Borough Council following Thursday's elections.
Read moreLib Dems fall one short
The Lib Dems fell just one councillor short of getting their much-craved majority in Wokingham.
They have controlled the council for the past two years with no overall control but earlier their leader had expressed some cautious optimism for a better result.
It finished up with the Lib Dems on 27, the Conservatives on 19 and Labour with eight.
BreakingWokingham remains under no overall control
The Lib Dems finish on 27 in Wokingham, meaning they remain the largest party but without overall control.
BreakingDonna Jones re-elected as Hampshire PCC
Conservative Donna Jones has won another term as Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Down to the wire in Wokingham...
BBC South’s Alex Meakin reports... "One ward to go here, Lib Dems need one more seat to take overall control..."
Status quo at Oxford City Council
Olivia Wilson
Oxfordshire political reporter, BBC News
As we wait for the final few ward results to be called, the mood is flat among Labour councillors who have struggled to clinch back their previously held majority (from 2010-2023).
We can say with certainty now that a Labour minority administration will continue.
The resignation of Labour councillors in October, in protest to Keir Starmer not calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, has continued to impact the political structure of Oxford City Council for another year.
'Lib Dems nervously sip their drinks'
Patrick O'Hagan
BBC Berkshire political reporter
The ongoing count at Wokingham is a window on the world of that strangest of beasts, the local council election.
While a group of hyperactive five and six-year-olds throw themselves around a softplay area at the London Valley leisure centre, the sports hall right next door is watching something very different play out.
The tables here groan under the weight of the big black ballot boxes which contain the votes that will decide the fate of the borough council and who runs it.
There’s no cake on offer here but coffee cups are everywhere as the Lib Dems nervously sip their drinks, hoping they’ll secure enough votes to give them overall control of the council.
They need 28 of the 54 seats available to get them over the line and give them what they crave most.
It’s looking a tough ask but there’s a way to go yet. The birthday boy next door couldn’t care less, face smeared in cream, he’s just trying to avoid his mum and the wet wipe heading his way.
Good luck to him, he’s had a long day but then so too have the men and women hoping their time in the spotlight has arrived as well.
Veterans angry after finding ID is invalid at polls
Ex-servicemen in Gosport are turned away from polling stations after presenting Veteran Cards as ID.
Read moreConservatives set to lose hold on last Oxfordshire council
Bethan Nimmo
Political reporter, BBC Radio Oxford
It's been a bruising day for the Conservatives here in Cherwell.
This had been the very last council that the Tories were running in Oxfordshire - albeit as a minority administration.
Compare that to a few years ago - up to 2019 - Oxfordshire was a real Tory stronghold across local government. They held power in all the districts outside Oxford - and ran the county council as well.
Now - it doesn't look like they'll have the numbers to continue running things here in Cherwell even as a minority.
That's a big moment for Oxfordshire - no more councils run by the Conservatives.
It's the Liberal Democrats that made significant gains here.
No-one's going to have an overall majority here at the end of the day. That means there will be discussions going on in the next few hours, days and weeks as parties work out if they can work together to take power.
But the Liberal Democrats having made those gains will certainly be looking to be a leading force in any coalition going forward.
'Glum and disappointed'
Olivia Wilson
Oxfordshire political reporter, BBC News
Labour councillors in Oxford are looking incredibly glum and disappointed. So far they have failed to gain any seats and lost two to the newly formed Independent Oxford Alliance, in Littlemore and Lye Valley.
Results beginning to come through in Cherwell
Bethan Nimmo
Political reporter, Oxfordshire
After a long wait - the first results are coming in at Cherwell District Council.
It’s been a nervous few hours in particular for the Conservatives.
They’re defending 11 of the 16 seats available and so certainly have the most to lose.
They currently run the authority as a minority administration but it’s likely by the end of the day they won’t have the numbers to do that.
Counting underway in Wokingham
Anxious faces at Wokingham, with counting underway.
BreakingStill NOC in Basingstoke
Basingstoke and Deane remains a council of no overall control, despite the loss of seven seats for the Conservatives.
Labour gained one, the Lib Dems two and the Greens one.
As reported earlier, the Women's Equality Party won a seat and there were further two seats won by independents.