Summary

  • Labour and the Lib Dems have made gains at the expense of Conservatives in local elections, with the Tories losing more than 1000 councillors and 45 councils so far

  • Labour would have a nine-point lead over the Conservatives based on today's results, if all of Britain voted, the BBC projects

  • It has seized councils in key election battlegrounds including Swindon, Medway, Dover and East Staffordshire

  • The Lib Dems took control of councils in Stratford-on-Avon, Dacorum, Windsor and Maidenhead and South Hams from the Tories

  • The Green Party have won their first ever outright majority on a council in Mid Suffolk

  • PM Rishi Sunak has acknowledged some "disappointing results", while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says his party's on course to win the next general election

  • You can watch BBC News coverage of the results live by clicking the play button at the top of this page

  1. No change at Wirral Councilpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    There remains no change at Wirral Council in Merseyside as no party has been able to gain an overall majority.

    Wirral Council has no overall controlImage source, .
  2. No change at Canterbury Councilpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    There remains no change at Canterbury Council in Kent as no party has been able to gain an overall majority.

    There remains no change at Canterbury Council in Kent as no party has been able to gain an overall majority.Image source, .
  3. Derby remains under no overall controlpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    There is no change at Derby Council with no party in a majority.

    There is no change at Derby Council with no party in a majority.Image source, .
  4. Labour gain Thanetpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
    Breaking

    Another gain for Labour, this time Thanet District Council in Kent.

    It previously had no overall control.

    Another gain for Labour, this time Thanet District Council in Kent.Image source, .
  5. South Staffordshire a Tory holdpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Conservatives have been able to hold South Staffordshire Council.

    Conservatives have been able to hold South Staffordshire Council.Image source, .
  6. A little more detail on two Labour winspublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Let's look in a little more detail at two councils that have swung from Conservative to Labour control.

    In some cases the Tories have lost after their support was reduced and spread among the other candidates, but in Erewash and Dover the votes seems to have switched almost directly to Labour.

    Erewash council seats graphicImage source, .
    Dover council seats graphicImage source, .
  7. The results breakdown - in maps and chartspublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    It's been a dramatic local election this year in England, and there's still several councils yet to be declared.

    To help you digest the results, we've crunched the data to show you what councils have changed hands, as well as mapping out the areas of the country where things have changed the most.

    Click here to see the breakdown of results - as it stands.

  8. Lib Dems gain Surrey Heathpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
    Breaking

    The Liberal Democrats have seized control of Surrey Heath District Council.

    It had previously been a hung council with no overall majority.

    Bar chart showing council seats in Surrey Heath Liberal Democrat Councillors 21 Change 14, Conservative Councillors 6 Change -12, Independents and Others Councillors 3 Change -1, Labour Councillors 2 Change 1, Green Councillors 0 Change -2
  9. Party in freefall, says Tory mayorpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, has told Radio 4’s PM programme the poor Tory performance is a partly a result of “the turmoil and upheaval of the last 12 months”.

    "There has been an issue that the Labour Party have been quite successful in making this a referendum on the government, it was very much about the cost of living, NHS… we could have done better at being able to tackle those questions," he said.

    “The risk that we have is that we’ve shot ourselves in the foot as a party for so long now, people are frustrated, people don’t feel like they can vote for us… and what is interesting – and we saw it on the ground in Teeside… it’s more the Conservative Party is in freefall at the moment and the Labour Party aren’t particularly making any ground.”

    On what the government needs to be doing, he said, “I’m not sure we currently align with where people are at the moment… I think we do need to get better at emotionally engaging with the public."

  10. Labour gain Cheshire West and Chesterpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
    Breaking

    Labour has taken control of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

    It had previously been a hung council.

    Cheshire West and ChesterImage source, .
  11. Labour hold Liverpool Councilpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Labour have held Liverpool City Council.

    Labour have held Liverpool City Council.Image source, .
  12. Lib Dems hold Vale of White Horse Councilpublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    The Liberal Democrats have held the Vale of White Horse District in Oxfordshire.

    Vale of White Horse CouncilImage source, .
  13. Greens predict further gains after winning first councilpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Media caption,

    Local elections 2023: Greens predict further gains after Suffolk win

    Greens make a "real difference" on subjects such as housing and planning, co-leader Adrian Ramsay has said after the party won majority control of a council for the first time.

    He said this "paves the way" for the party gaining further councillors and MPs.

    The party had been in minority control of Brighton and Hove Council, but now runs Mid Suffolk Council without the need for support from other parties.

  14. Latest declared council resultspublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Latest declared council results, 17.47 5 May

    The Conservatives have held on to Breckland and Dartford, Labour has held Wigan, but most of the latest declarations are councils with no party majority.

  15. No change at Baberghpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    There is no change at Babergh District Council in Suffolk, as no party has been able to gain an overall majority.

    There is no change at Babergh Council, as no party has been able to gain an overall majority.Image source, .
  16. You blew the doors off - Starmer on Labour winning Medwaypublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    We reported a little earlier the BBC vote share projects a nine-point lead for Labour over the Conservatives in the next general election - this is the largest lead the BBC has recorded from Labour since it lost power in 2010.

    Earlier, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party was "on course" to win a majority in the next general election. He travelled to Medway to celebrate his party's victory in the Kent council with local activists, telling them: "You didn't just get it over the line, you blew the doors off"

    Lib Dems are also making gains at the expense of the Conservatives, with the Tories losing more than 40 councils overall so far. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he is "disappointed" in the results as they stand.

  17. Tories hold Brecklandpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    The Conservatives have held Breckland Council in Norfolk.

    The Conservatives have held Breckland Council.Image source, .
  18. Tories lose control of Harboroughpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
    Breaking

    The Conservatives have lost control of Harborough Council, although no party has an overall majority.

    The Conservatives have lost control of Harborough Council, although no party has an overall majority.Image source, .
  19. Conservatives lose Cherwellpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
    Breaking

    The Conservatives have lost control of Cherwell Council, although no party has an overall majority.

    The Conservatives have lost control of Cherwell Council, although no party has an overall majority.
  20. No change at Herefordshire Councilpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 5 May 2023

    Herefordshire Council remains a hung authority with no party achieving an overall majority.

    Herefordshire Council remains a hung authority with no party achieving an overall majority.Image source, .