| SNP hopes of majority remain on a knife edge |
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| | | As results keep coming in for the elections in England, Scotland and Wales today, you can stay up-to-date with what’s happening, reaction and analysis via our live page. We’ve seen Conservative gains and Labour losses in England. Meanwhile, in Wales, power’s not expected to change hands, even though all the results haven't been declared. In Scotland, the SNPs hopes of securing an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament remain on a knife edge. First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon easily held off a challenge from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in her Glasgow Southside constituency. The party won three key seats in Edinburgh Central - where former MP Angus Robertson was standing for the SNP - Ayr from the Conservatives and East Lothian from Labour. No other constituencies have changed hands so far, with the SNP currently on 39 seats, the Liberal Democrats four, Tories two and Labour one. Here are the results in charts. However, once the regional list results are finalised later, opposition parties will see their number of seats increase dramatically. Philip Sim, our political correspondent, says the SNP are clearly on course to form a government for the fourth election running. This level of dominance in itself is fairly remarkable but the question of an overall majority remains very much in the balance, he adds. | |
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| Labour set to stay in power in Wales |
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| While Labour suffered in England, losing the parliamentary by-election in Hartlepool and ceding control of several local authorities in England, it's a very different situation in Wales. Here, the party is set to stay in power after matching its best-ever Senedd election result. With 52 of the 60 seats declared, Labour is on 30 with the Conservatives on 12, Plaid Cymru nine and the Liberal Democrats one. The Conservatives took the Vale of Clwyd from Labour, and Brecon and Radnorshire from the Liberal Democrats. But Labour held firm in other Tory target seats and took Rhondda back from Plaid Cymru. It’s unlikely Labour will gain further seats when votes for the regional lists in South Wales Central and South Wales East are counted later. Leader Mark Drakeford said he would "do whatever I can" to ensure Wales has a "stable and progressive" government. Here's how it happened and you can see the Welsh elections story in charts. | |
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| England's counting continues |
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| Counting continues for the English council elections, with more results expected to be declared today. Votes were cast for 143 local authorities and with more than half the results declared, a picture of the landscape has started to emerge. The Conservatives have made significant gains and Labour has lost control of several councils. Tory gains include Maidstone, Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Basildon, while Labour lost some authorities, including Sheffield and Plymouth, to no overall control. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer promised to lead a fightback and set out a "bold vision", while Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the Conservative results as “encouraging”. As well as these counts, we are expecting further results in the mayoral elections, including London, and for police and crime commissioners. | |
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| | | | | This isn't a general election, where everything can change, where voters' choices can shift the course of the whole UK in a moment of decision. But the scale of these votes means our politicians are being given much more than a flavour of the public's opinions right now. It shouldn't be forgotten that many contests are yet to conclude - hand sanitiser, screens and social distancing have slowed the pace. Much may yet emerge, but there are some observations worth making. | |
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| | Laura Kuenssberg | BBC political editor | |
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| | | | The elections dominate the front pages this morning. Labour’s in “turmoil”, says the Guardian, after the Conservatives made significant gains at the polls. The i weekend quotes Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saying the party's "lost the trust of working people". Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s been propelled by a "vaccine bounce", according the FT Weekend, plunging Labour into "crisis". And after the first day of results, the Times reports Mr Johnson is eyeing up a “decade in power”, suggesting he could outlast Margaret Thatcher who was in No 10 for 11 years. Read the papers here. | |
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| | | Scotland Liberal Party member suspended over Yousaf confrontation |
| | | | Liverpool First black woman elected as mayor to lead major British city |
| | | | Wales Re-elected politician hits out at personal attacks on social media |
| | | | Davey Liberal Democrats can 'beat the Conservatives', says leader |
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| If you check out one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Not all the remaining election results will be declared today, so expect more results tomorrow. There won’t be many but be prepared for more English council results, a handful of police and crime commissioners for Wales to be declared and a mayoral announcement. We’ll bring you more on those and how the political landscape looks, plus any fallout in another special election edition tomorrow. | |
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| | | | 1945 Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announces the end of World War Two in Europe, otherwise known as VE Day. |
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