Summary

  • Social care plans 'cost Conservatives a lot of support' - Stafford MP

  • Neck-and-neck Newcastle-under-Lyme race settled by 30 votes

  • Masked men attack homeowner after breaking in

  • Tokyo 2020: Mixed events would add 'fun' element to Olympics – Adam Peaty

  • Updates from Friday 9 June 2017

Live Reporting

  1. Defeated Labour MP will 'forever treasure' time in Stoke South

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The former MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, Rob Flello, says he'll "forever treasure" being the area's MP for 12 years.

    Rob FlelloLabour Party

    He'd held the seat for Labour since 2005 but lost it last night to Conservative Jack Brereton.

    I will forever treasure the time I've had as Member of Parliament here and Jack, I shall be looking over your shoulder, making sure that you are indeed carrying on fighting for them in the years to come."

    Rob Flello, Defeated Labour candidate in Stoke South

  2. Man still being quizzed in murder inquiry after body find

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A man's still being questioned by police this afternoon, following his arrest on suspicion of murder after a woman was found dead in a home in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Forensics van on Church Avenue

    Police were called to a house in Church Avenue, Baddeley Green, at 10:35 BST on Thursday where they found the 43-year-old woman's body.

    Today, Staffordshire Police says the 51-year-old remains in custody.

  3. Re-elected Conservative MP defends her election campaign

    Ros Chimes
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The winning Conservative candidate in the Staffordshire Moorlands, Karen Bradley, has defended her election campaign.

    Karen Bradley

    She increased her share of the vote by 7% with a majority of 10,830 over the Labour candidate Dave Jones.

    However, she had faced criticism during the campaign for not taking part in any of the hustings.

    I was clear right at the beginning of the campaign that I wouldn't do any of the hustings. It's a very short campaign, we didn't know it was coming and there's lot you have to do in a campaign."

    Karen Bradley, Re-elected Staffordshire Moorlands Conservative MP

  4. Country urged to keep going towards Brexit by re-elected Stone MP

    Lamont Howie
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Stone MP Bill Cash called for the country to continue moving towards leaving the European Union, after successfully retaining his seat.

    Conservative Bill Cash holds Stone

    The prominent Eurosceptic saw his majority increase by 8.5% on 2015 as he received 31,614 votes, more than double Labour's Sam Hale.

    After the result he told BBC Radio Stoke there were two main issues for him now.

    There are unresolved questions and the most important two for me are number one, to leave the European Union, to have a successful renegotiation and the other is to have a policy of economic growth to pay for everything else."

    Bill Cash, Re-elected Stone Conservative MP

  5. 'Strong relationship' between DUP and Conservatives - May

    BBC Politics

    Theresa May says the Conservative party and the DUP will work together, having "enjoyed a strong relationship over many years".

    Brexit negotiations will continue, on the same timetable as before, says Mrs May.

    The Conservatives and DUP have a combined 329 seats - 326 is traditionally seen as the benchmark to form a majority government.

  6. Theresa May says she is forming a government
    Breaking

    BBC Politics

    Theresa May says her government will "provide certainty" and work to keep the country "safe and secure".

  7. Labour MP 'blown away' at win

    New Crewe and Nantwich Labour MP Laura Smith says she is 'blown away' at win

  8. Electoral Commission 'aware' of Keele students' voting problems

    Jodie Looker
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Electoral Commission says it's spoken to staff at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council after some students at Keele University said they weren't able to vote yesterday.

    Up to 100 students had contacted Keele Students Union Council, the organisation said, about having problems.

    Votes being sorted at Keele Hall count

    The borough council said some students hadn't finished the registration process and claimed others had been able to vote after being verified by polling staff.

    In a statement, the Electoral Commission says it's aware of the reports and will be taking them into account when it reports on how polls were staffed and administered.

  9. Tories 'best party for Brexit negotiations'

    Matt Sandoz
    BBC Radio Stoke

    The Conservative Party is the best party to negotiate with the European Union over Brexit, the re-elected Congleton MP says.

    Fiona Bruce

    With Theresa May's election gamble backfiring and leaving her without an overall majority, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has suggested his party is ready to take on negotiations.

    But Fiona Bruce, speaking after she'd increased her majority in Congleton to over 31,000, says the Tories are the best bet for a Brexit deal.

    What the government has to do is to negotiate the best possible terms for the country and I am confident that actually the best party to do that is the Conservatives."

    Fiona Bruce, Congleton's Conservative MP

  10. Paul Nuttall 'made mistake' in trying to win Stoke-on-Trent by-election

    Perry Spiller
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    UKIP's Paul Nuttall made a mistake running in the Stoke-on-Trent by-election in February, according to one of the party's former candidates.

    Mr Nuttall's announced he's standing down as leader of the party after it failed to win any seats in the general election.

    Paul Nuttall announces he's standing down as UKIP leader

    He'd stood in the by-election following the success of the Brexit vote in the area, but ending up losing to Labour's Gareth Snell.

    Geoff Locke, who stood for UKIP in Stoke North in 2015, says, in hindsight, he should have let a local candidate stand in that contest.

    North Staffordshire as a whole voted very heavily in favour of Brexit and therefore I think there was an assumption there that taking Stoke Central should have been very straightforward."

    Geoff Locke, Former UKIP parliamentary candidate

  11. Prime minister blamed for 'irresponsible' election timing

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The prime minister's decision to call this general election has been called "irresponsible" ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

    Ruth Smeeth and supporters celebrate victory

    The Stoke-on-Trent North Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, who held her seat last night, says it's left the country in "turmoil" with just days to go before discussions are due to start.

    Fundamentally the Conservative Party have let us down and they have put us in a state of turmoil when we are negotiating our exit from the European Union which we start in 11 days. This is irresponsible."

    Ruth Smeeth, Stoke-on-Trent North Labour MP Ruth Smeeth

  12. 'Stunning' and historic election results dominate local newspapers

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The local election results naturally dominate the newspapers in our area.

    The Sentinel says Jack Brereton's "made history" by becoming Stoke-on-Trent's first Conservative MP in 82 years.

    Meanwhile the Crewe Chronicle says Laura Smith's victory for Labour in Crewe and Nantwich was "another hammer blow for Theresa May".

    Laura SmithNantwich News

    In the same area, local blog Nantwich News hailed the win for Ms Smith as a "stunning" one after several recounts.

    While the Express and Star says Conservative Amanda Milling "crushed" the challenge from 7/7 hero Paul Dadge for Labour in Cannock Chase.

  13. Tory MP says Brexit 'can't be led by Corbyn and ramshackle coalition'

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Tamworth's re-elected Conservative MP says Brexit negotiations can't be led by Jeremy Corbyn and a "ramshackle" coalition.

    Christopher PincherConservative Party

    Christopher Pincher held his seat with an increased majority over Labour and said afterwards his party was the most suitable to lead EU discussions.

    People will say, at this critical moment for our country, that we need a strong government, capable of delivering a safe and successful Brexit. That government cannot be Jeremy Corbyn and his ramshackle brigade of the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Plaid."

    Christopher Pincher, Tamworth's re-elected Conservative MP

  14. UKIP leader resigns after campaign failures
    Breaking

    Paul Nuttall has resigned as UKIP leader after his party failed to gain a single seat in Westminster.

    He tried and failed to win the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election in February.

    Paul NuttallDRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

  15. Tories gain city seat after 80 years

    Jack Brereton, 26, will be one of the youngest Conservative MPs in the House.

    Read More

  16. Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP says Theresa May must resign

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The prime minister's been urged to resign by the re-elected Stoke-on-Trent Central Labour MP, who says she should "read the writing on the wall".

    Gareth Snell's result

    Gareth Snell retook the seat which he had only fought just a few months ago in a by-election, after Tristram Hunt quit as MP.

    Last night, he increased his majority to almost 4,000 and then called on Theresa May to quit.

    If she has any decency, she will read the writing on the wall this evening and by Monday will have tendered her resignation."

    Gareth Snell

  17. Theresa May to head to Buckingham Palace

    Election 2017

    BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says Theresa May is expected to head to Buckingham Palace today to speak to the Queen, "with the understanding she can form a government".

    This is a result of conversations that have been taking place with the DUP over the past hours, though it is "not necessarily an attempt to form a formal coalition.

    "The DUP have no wish to see Theresa May out of office and no wish to work with Jeremy Corbyn," added Laura.

  18. Keele students unable to vote 'may not have finished registration process'

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council says students at Keele University who said they'd been unable to vote yesterday may not have fully completed the registration process.

    Dozens contacted the BBC saying they'd been told their "names were not on the list" at polling stations.

    Keele Hall

    A council spokesman said: "Where people haven't completed the online process, it's unfortunate, but if they haven't completed the process they can't be registered to vote."

    He added those affected by out-of-date electoral lists had been able to vote after polling staff verified they were on the register.

  19. Defeated Tory says party has 'difficult route ahead'

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The defeated Conservative candidate in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Owen Meredith (pictured), says his party has a "difficult route ahead" after their election results.

    Owen MeredithOwen Meredith

    He lost to Labour's Paul Farrelly who held on to the seat by 30 votes.

    Although the Conservatives have not prospered here tonight and it looks as if we've got a hung parliament and a difficult route ahead, I'm proud of the positive campaign that we ran across Newcastle-under-Lyme and the many thousands of voters who backed us."

    Owen Meredith, Defeated Conservative candidate in Newcastle-under-Lyme

  20. Lichfield MP Fabricant says Theresa May should stay as PM

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The Lichfield Conservative MP Michael Fabricant says Theresa May should not stand down as prime minister.

    Michael Fabricant after winning

    Mrs May said overnight the country needed "stability" but there have been calls from within the party for her to go.

    However Mr Fabricant, who easily held onto his Lichfield seat, tweeted that she should stay and lead the country's Brexit negotiations.

    In 10 days' time EU negotiations begin. If we form government, we should start negotiations with Theresa May leading them."

    Michael Fabricant