Local elections live: Labour, Reform and Tories brace themselves as counting begins

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

The Green Party has said it is confident of “record-breaking” results in the council and mayoral elections taking place across England as polls closed this evening.

The party’s co-leader Carla Denyer argued their “bold and positive vision…stands in contrast to Reform whose politics breed fear and division.”

“The Green Party is used to breaking records and it looks like this year will be no exception”, she said, adding: “We’ve increased our number of councillors seven years in a row, and we are sure this will be an eighth. We are taking seats from both the Conservatives and Labour up and down the country as voters, understandably, move away from the tired old parties that have let us all down.”

Nigel Farage has said that Labour and the Conservatives “are more fearful of the results tonight than we are”.

In a post on social media released as voting ended, the Reform UK leader said: “Thank you for voting Reform.

“We have fought a strong campaign.

“The two major parties are more fearful of the results tonight than we are.”

Kemi Badenoch has said she “has seen the very best of our party – and the very best of our country” while campaigning for the local elections.

In a message released on social media after polls closed on Thursday night, the Conservative leader said: “To everyone who has been out knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, and proudly championing our message – thank you.

“Over the past month, I’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country, visiting every community casting their vote today. At every stop, I’ve seen the very best of our party – and the very best of our country.

“We are a remarkable party: united by purpose, driven by service, and open to all – regardless of age or background – who want to improve their towns and communities.

“Not only have you represented our party – you’ve represented the true spirit of public service. And for that, I thank you.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Runcorn:

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has arrived at the count hall – but there’s no sign of Nigel Farage yet.

While the party leader has so far stayed away from Runcorn – perhaps as an attempt to not look overly optimistic about their chances – his number two has already made an appearance.

Asked whether Mr Farage will be showing up to Runcorn tonight or tomorrow, a party source said: “Let’s see the result.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Runcorn:

Protesters from Stand Up to Racism, demonstrating outside the Runcorn and Helsby by-election count hall, want to “send a clear message” to Nigel Farage that “his racist politics aren’t welcome”.

Speaking to The Independent, activist Nahella Ashraf said: “Regardless of what the outcome is tonight, our campaign will continue to make sure that we stop Reform UK becoming mainstream”.

“They don’t represent many people. All they do is use dog whistle politics and fear and to gain votes. They have no solution to the problems of the working class. They have no answer to the housing crisis, cost of living crisis or the crisis of the NHS”, she added.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

With the polls closed and ballot boxes being whisked to counting centres across England, there is a real sense of anticipation about these results.

Unlike previous local elections this is not just an indicator on how well or badly a government is doing or even how the main opposition is doing. This is about whether we are on the cusp of something new in British politics.

In the next 24 hours we will know if Nigel Farage’s Reform is a phenomenon of the polls and nothing more or a party ready to break through as a major force.

We will learn a lot about whether Farage is a potential prime minister in waiting.

We will also get an idea of if the Tories are heading to terminal decline in the wake of Reform’s rise.

Last time this happened was more than a century ago when Labour effectively replaced the Liberals in 1922. History could be unfolding in the next 24 hours.

The Runcorn and Helsby by-election was triggered when former Labour MP Mike Amesbury quit after admitting punching a constituent.

The 2024 result suggests it should be a safe Labour seat – Amesbury won 53 per cent of the vote – but Reform’s Sarah Pochin is the bookmakers’ favourite to secure a by-election victory.

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Runcorn:

The Tory party already appears to be in damage control mode ahead of what is expected to be a difficult night across both the local elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.

Issuing a statement as polls closed, a Tory spokesperson said they “have always been clear that these would be tough elections for the party – defending an incredibly high watermark from 2021 when we took two-thirds of all seats”.

“If the 2024 General Election was replicated on today’s battleground, we would lose control of almost every single Council”, they added, in an attempt to manage expectations.

The party spokesperson said that anything less than progress on the “historic supermajority” Labour won at the last general election would “raise serious questions about the direction Labour is taking this country”.

While Labour is certainly at risk of suffering bitter losses tonight, it is expected to be even worse for the opposition. Tory peer and pollster Lord Hayward last week said he expects his own party to lose between 475 and 525 local authority seats. Defending around 900 seats, the party will only win between 375 and 425, the pollster said.