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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
The result in Carlisle is too close to call, both Labour and Conservative sources say.
Labour has lost control of Nuneaton and Bedworth losing 8 seats while the Conservatives have gained 9.
No majority for any party, resulting in a hung council.
Lib Dem sources say the party expects to make a handful of gains in Liverpool.
The first set of really interesting results are expected around 1am as Labour target Swindon and Tory target Basildon are expected to be announced.
Total of 12 out of 150 councils have been declared so far.
Councillors as it stands:
Con: 70 (+18)
Lab: 90 (-12)
LD: 10 (+6)
UKIP: 0 (-18)
GRN: 0 (-1)
OTH: 15 (+7)
Tories hold Swindon as Labour only gains one seat. Jeremy Corbyn's party will be disappointed with that.
Conservative sources are optimistic that they will take control of Colchester, but say it is a close call.
The Conservatives need to gain three seats at the council which currently has no overall control.
The Conservatives have taken the first seat from the Liberal Democrats with 16 more wards to declare.
Sadiq Khan: "I’ve been campaigning across London and it’s quite remarkable to see us being competitive in boroughs that used to be “no go” areas for Labour in previous years. No more.
"It would be truly astonishing if Labour were to take control of Wandsworth council - which has been a flagship Tory council for forty years - and winning here is above even our wildest expectations. We last won here in 1974 ...
"In Wandsworth we stand a real chance of winning councillors in some wards that Labour hasn’t represented since I was born - but it would be a real earthquake if we were to win control of the council - above even our wildest expectations.
"Whatever the outcome here tonight, it’s clear that London has turned its back on Theresa May’s Government - who neither like nor understand Londoners, our values or our way of life."
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