Summary

  • Our live coverage has ended

Live Reporting

Edited by Tom Pugh and Christian Fuller

  1. Surrey local election results announced

    Election results for six Surrey councils and the police and crime commissioner are due on Friday.

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  2. Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner re-elected

    The elections were held on Thursday along with those for six council areas in Surrey.

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  3. That's it from us

    Our live coverage of the 2024 local elections in the South East has ended. Thank you for joining us.

    You can see further live coverage from across the UK here.

  4. Townsend 'proud' to be first re-elected PCC

    Lisa TownsendBBC/Fiona Irving

    Lisa Townsend will serve a second term as PCC

    The BBC has been speaking with Lisa Townsend after her re-election.

    “I’m absolutely thrilled. [The] first police and crime commissioner to be re-elected in Surrey," she said.

    "I’m incredibly proud of the record over the last three years and really looking forward to delivering again – making sure we’ve got more police, giving a fantastic service for victims in the county and making sure that we continue to bring crime down.

    “We know it’s a difficult backdrop. The government’s been in power now for 14 years. But I’m absolutely thrilled that the residents of Surrey have recognised what we’ve been doing for them over the last three years – I think they absolutely understand my commitment in continuiung to deliver for them.”

  5. Lib Dems hold in Woking
    Breaking

    The Liberal Democrats have held their majority in Woking with 20 seats.

    That's followed by four for the Conservatives, four for the Independents and two for Labour.

  6. Is a coalition on the cards in Maidstone?

    Claire Starr
    Reporter at BBC South East Today

    Stuart Jeffery

    Stuart Jeffery is keen to lead a Green administration

    Initial conversations are underway just moments after it was revealed there would be no overall control at Maidstone Borough Council - but who would team up?

    The Green Party could work with The Independent Group in an alliance. It could leave them the biggest party on the council.

    Green Party leader Stuart Jeffery said he would "relish the opportunity" to lead Maidstone Borough Council.The Liberal Democrats, who have 12 seats, are also willing to work with other parties to form a coalition, according to their leader Cllr Clive English.Initial discussions have already taken place and will continue in the coming days. For now, we'll have to wait and see.

  7. No overall control in Maidstone
    Breaking

    The results are in, and there is no overall control at Maidstone Borough Council. Here's how things finish:

    • Conservatives: 13
    • Lib Dems: 12
    • Green 10
    • The Independent Group: 6
    • Labour: 6
    • Fant & Oakwood: 2

  8. Ousted deputy leader 'disappointed but grateful'

    We told you a moment ago that the deputy leader of Maidstone Borough Council has lost his seat.

    He told the BBC he is "obviously disappointed not to win this time" but "incredibly grateful" to those who voted for him.

    The former Conservative deputy leader added: "The government changing the voting rules had a big effect. We’re about 13,000 behind – that would easily have been overcome with second-choice votes."

  9. No overall control in Runnymede

    There remains no party in overall control at Runnymede Borough Council.

    The Conservatives won the most seats, with 19, while Labour and the Lib Dems took five a piece.

  10. Numbers from Surrey PCC election

    We revealed a moment ago that Lisa Townsend will stay on as Surrey's PCC and can now bring you the full number of votes for each candidate.

    • Lisa Townsend, Con, 95,538
    • Paul Kennedy, Lib Dem, 82,213
    • Kate Chinn, Lab, 42,813
    • Alex Coley, Ind, 42,052

  11. Maidstone's deputy leader loses seat

    Maidstone Borough Council's deputy leader, Conservative Paul Cooper, has lost his seat.

  12. Lib Dems retain Mole Valley
    Breaking

    The Liberal Democrats have retained their majority on Mole Valley District Council.

  13. No overall control in Tandridge
    Breaking

    Tandridge District Council remains under no overall control.

    The Lib Dems are the biggest party on 11, followed by the Conservatives on seven.

  14. ‘Helped change the face of Hastings politics’ - Paul Barnett

    Claudia Sermbezis
    Reporter, BBC South East Today

    Paul Barnett, of Hastings Independent, said: “I’m really pleased to have helped change the face of Hastings politics, with several wards now supporting four parties.

    “And congratulations to the Green Party who have worked hard and honestly for their success.

    “We will continue our campaigning to change how education, housing and water work, and will be back next year to change the county council.”

  15. Adur council win among Labour's election gains

    A total of 56 seats across the four Sussex councils were up for re-election.

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  16. Lisa Townsend declared Surrey PCC winner
    Breaking

    Jack Fiehn
    Political reporter

    Lisa TownsendLisa Townsend

    In the past few moments, Lisa Townsend has been declared the winner of the Surrey police and crime commissioner elections.

    The current Conservative PCC was standing against Labour, Lib Dem and Independent candidates.

    Turnout in the Surrey PCC election was 29.9% overall.

  17. Labour holds Crawley Borough Council
    Breaking

    Labour hold Crawley Borough Council.

    Labour won five more council seats, meaning they now hold 25 seats overall. The Conservatives lost five seats, meaning they now have 11 seats.

  18. ‘Look at us now’, says Hastings’ Green leader

    Claudia Sermbezis
    Reporter, BBC South East Today

    Hastings

    Half of Hastings' 32 seats were up for re-election in a borough which saw political upheaval and a change of leadership as recently as January.

    The Greens now have 12 seats – up from five in 2022.

    Now they will be looking to form a majority with either Hastings independent or Labour - a lot of discussion for the next few weeks and they’ve got to make a decision by 22 May.

    Greens leader Julia Hilton said on her re-election: “Three years ago I was the first Green councillor - look at us now.”

    Hastings independents now have six seats - and haven't gained any today.

    Labour have eight seats. They won five seats today - four gains and one hold.

    Conservatives have five seats in total - held two today but lost five.

    And Independent have one seat.

  19. How's the turnout been?

    Anthony Reuben
    BBC Verify

    Some government ministers have been talking about low turnout in these local elections, with Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride saying: "I strongly suspect there were a lot of Conservatives who stayed at home."

    While we have some turnout figures, we can't tell how many of those who did not vote were Conservatives.

    Election data supremo Prof Sir John Curtice tells us that in the key wards we’re monitoring, turnout has been very similar to last year’s local elections - but down slightly compared with previous years.

    He says it's 2% below 2022 levels and 4% down from 2021.

    Looking at just the Parliamentary by-election in Blackpool South, the turnout there was 32.4%.

    If you compare that with other by-elections since the last general election, it is comparatively low - 19 out of 23.

  20. Partial results from Surrey police and crime commissioner elections

    We're expecting the full results of the Surrey PCC elections in the next hour, but have just received figures from six of the 11 districts and boroughs.

    The county's current Conservative PCC Lisa Townsend is ahead with 43,216 out of an overall 122,365 votes.

    We'll let you know when numbers for the remaining five areas come in.