Local elections - as it happened: Corbyn insists Labour ‘ready for an election', despite missing top London targets
All the latest updates, as they happened
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Labour has urged the government to scrap controversial ID pilots, which saw some voters turned away during local elections in England.
Parties faced mixed results at the polls, although Jeremy Corbyn insisted Labour was "absolutely ready" for a general election, despite failing to deliver on its pledge to snatch key councils from the Tory clutches.
While Labour made gains in areas like Plymouth and Trafford, it was unable to win the Tory "crown jewels" in London, such as Wandsworth and Westminster.
The party had hoped to seize Kensington and Chelsea from the Tories in the wake of public outcry over the Grenfell Tower tragedy but failed to do so, while its chances in Barnet - which has a large Jewish population - may have been damaged by the recent antisemitism row.
The Conservatives capitalised on the near-collapse of Ukip, and gained control of councils in Peterborough, Southend and Basildon, with a small swing in their favour outside London.
Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats won several councils - including target seats of Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames - while the Greens elected a string of new councillors.
Volunteers count ballot papers at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London (Reuters)
Graham Brady MP, who leads the backbenchers’ 1922 Committee, says it is "really disappointing" that the party has lost its only council in Greater Manchester.
UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge speaking after he lost his Dudley Council seat of Sedgley.
"We've all been obliterated," he said and placed the blame firmly with Gerard Batten who assumed party leadership in February.
Mr Etheridge said Mr Batten "cannot lead" and "should be ashamed" of the lack of support for local council candidates.
The Liberal Democrats are confident of winning the London borough of Richmond upon Thames from the Conservatives, party sources said, with the majority of wards still to declare.
Adam Hug, leader of the Labour group and candidate in the Westbourne Ward in Westminster, said he thinks the party has "made some progress", but that it will remain a Tory council.
Mr Hug said: "We think we've made some steps forward.
"It's going to be an interesting night, there's going to be a couple of wards that are very, very close."
He said he thinks Labour is "likely to make gains", adding that it has been a Tory borough for years and "very entrenched".
He added: "We've been very clear that we're the underdogs in this race. And I think that's still the case tonight."
Westminster City Council has always been Tory-controlled.
Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer said the government's approach to defence had contributed to the Conservatives losing the city's council.
The Tory MP told BBC News: "We've lost control of the council. I think across the country, clearly, it's not been a good night for Labour, but certainly challenging down here."
Mr Mercer said on the doorstep voters believed the military was reducing under the Conservative government.
"It's pretty clear to me the biggest factor in this city is defence," he said. "It always has been."
He added: "I've made very public my concerns around the handling of defence at the moment and what the vision is."
Labour have held Sheffield but lost three seats in the process.
The results for Sheffield showed Labour lost three seats while Liberal Democrats gained two and the Greens two against the background of the row over extensive tree-felling. Ukip lost one seat.
Conservatives have retained control of Welwyn Hatfield after winning 25 of the seats so far declared with six still to go.
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