Local elections in England and Wales have wrapped up, with millions of votes cast for 107 councils, 11 mayors in England, and 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs). The excitement peaked with a by-election in Blackpool South for a new MP, following the resignation of former Conservative Scott Benton.
As counting kicks off, the buzz is on for the first results expected just after midnight. These results are more than just numbers; they're the final litmus test of public sentiment before Rishi Sunak decides on the general election date later this year.
With the Conservatives trailing 15 to 20 points behind Labour for the past six months, all eyes are on the Tories, bracing for potentially poor outcomes. The scale of their losses could signal whether Labour is ready to step into Downing Street or if the Tories are gearing up for an electoral comeback. If results lean heavily against the Conservatives, we might even see a push from unhappy Tory MPs to replace Sunak with a new leader.
Both Labour and Conservatives are defending roughly 1,000 council seats each. Losing 480 seats would equal the Conservatives' worst local elections outcome in 1995, a mere two years before Labour's landslide general election victory.
Keep an eye on Redditch in Worcestershire and Harlow in Essex as potential battlegrounds where council control could shift from Tories to Labour. Some councils will count ballots overnight Thursday into Friday, while others will announce results on Friday morning. So, the thrill will continue into the weekend, with the last results expected on Sunday afternoon.
The winner of the Blackpool South by-election will be revealed in the wee hours of Friday morning. Mayoral results, including key races in Greater London, West Midlands, and Greater Manchester, will be announced on Friday and Saturday. Declarations for the London Assembly election will also roll in on Saturday.
Finally, a few remaining results for police commissioners and councils are anticipated on Sunday. Note that there are no elections in Scotland or Northern Ireland, so the focus is solely on the outcomes in England and Wales.
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