Local elections - as it happened: Corbyn insists Labour ‘ready for an election', despite missing top London targets

All the latest updates, as they happened

Local Elections 2018: The results so far

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.

Key Points

• Jeremy Corbyn says Labour is 'absolutely ready' for election despite failing to win Tory 'crown jewels'
• Tories snatch key target Barnet Council from under Labour's nose
• Labour admits it must 'rebuild trust' amid antisemitism scandal
• Ukip general secretary compares party to the 'Black Death' after near wipeout
• Ken Livingstone admits allegations he called Hitler a Zionist damaged Labour's chances

[4 May 2018 17:51 · Lizzy Buchan]

Conservatives have lost control of Kingston council to the Liberal Democrats - with Brexit cited as one of the key factors driving the success.

Kingston voted in favour of remaining in the EU, and re-elected Lib Dem former cabinet minister Sir Ed Davey as MP for Kingston and Surbiton in the general election last year.

The Liberal Democrats lost control of the council in 2014, and were predicted to oust the Tories this time round.

Liberal Democrat Liz Green, the newly elected leader of Kingston council, said she was "jubilant" at the result.

Asked why she thought her party had seized control, she said: "There is an element that is national - and an element of that will be Brexit - but a bigger element of it on the national is that they are unhappy with the Conservatives and the way that they are running the country.

"And voting in this election where they know the Liberal Democrats could beat the Conservatives is sending that message to Theresa May that you need to get better at running the country."

Voter turnout was 47.3%, up from 43.2% in 2014.

[4 May 2018 17:53 · Lizzy Buchan]

The Lib Dems have also retained control of South Lakeland after winning 28 of the 51 available seats. Conservatives have won 17 and Labour three. There are three seats still to be declared. 

[4 May 2018 18:02 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour has held Lewisham, winning all 54 available seats. The Green Party previously had one seat.

[4 May 2018 18:08 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour retains control of Hounslow after winning 33 of the available 60 seats. Conservatives have won six seats and there are 21 still to declare. 

[4 May 2018 18:11 · Lizzy Buchan]

UPDATE:

State of parties after 146 of 150 councils

Conservatives: 46 councils (-2); 1,295 seats (-85)

Labour: 70 councils (-1); 2,133 seats (+72)

LibDems: 9 councils (+4); 528 seats (+79)

Green: 33 seats (+3)

UKIP: 3 seats (-57)

BNP: (-1)

Independent: 96 seats (-84)

Liberal: 1 seat (-1)

Ratepayers and Residents: 46 seats (-6)

No overall control: 21 councils -1

[4 May 2018 18:20 · Lizzy Buchan]

Top pollster Professor John Curtice has written for The Independent on how Brexit played out in the local elections.

Read his take here:

[4 May 2018 18:32 · Lizzy Buchan]

With only one council left to declare - Tower Hamlets - the final picture has now emerged.

Here's our handy write-through of the day's drama, where both Labour and the Tories have received mixed results.

Story here:

[4 May 2018 18:35 · Lizzy Buchan]

That's it for today from the The Independent's local election liveblog. Thanks for following!