About their parties� fortunes. Heres a little of what they had to say. We want that General Election and were confident going into the General Election. Because what this by election shows is that the country wants change. This is a very clear divide, weve had 1a years of failure and decline, weve got chaos and division from the tories. People want to turn the page on that and go forward with labour and our positive plan for the country. Obviously, its disappointing to lose good, Hard Working Conservative counsellors and im grateful to them for all their service in local government, keeping council tax low and delivering services for local people. But weve still got lots of results to come as well, which is great, and there are also things that i would point to harlow for example, where keir starmer held a rallyjust on wednesday saying that was a place he had to win to be on track to win a General Election that hasnt happened. This may care from sir ed davey of the Liberal Democrats. The bots are still being counted, but the message from across the country is loud and clear. These votes. People have had enough of this Out Of Touch Conservative government. They have had enough of being taken for granted and been let down. It is time for change. And across this country, from cheltenham to dorset, from West Hertfordshire to here in winchester, so many people, including lifelong conservatives are switching to the Liberal Democrats to make that change happen. So they can hear a real champions who work tirelessly for the local community and deliver the fair deal that people still deserve. Im so proud of the liberal democrat councillors and candidates and champions who have worked tirelessly over the last few weeks for these amazing Election Results. This together, this year alone, we have knocked on over 2 million. Cheering knocked on over 2 million doors. And we have talked to people who are finding it so hard to make ends meet, herwaiting finding it so hard to make ends meet, her waiting so long for a gp or dentist appointment, who are angry about the sewage being pumped into their rivers and onto their beaches, who feel that things are not working any more as they should. We have shown the Liberal Democrats understand that and we share people because my concerns and we have real answers. These Election Results show what we how have known, that it is time for the General Election. Cheering rishi sunak me stay squatting in downing street, but the Liberal Democrats� general Election Campaign starts today. To fight for local people and their communities, to fight for real change, to fight for a fair dealand to fight for real change, to fight for a fair deal and to make this conservative government history. Cheering there you have ed davey speaking not too long ago. Just want to mark your card. These are live pictures we have of northallerton. The reason Labour Supporters are there is because this was a mayoral result. Labour have one the york and North Yorkshire. That happens to be ill it happens to include the payment is a� S Constituency of richmond, so rishi sunak has a labour mayor include the Prime Minister� S Constituency of richmond. We expect him to appear there at some point and with a Crossover To Northallerton as and when that happens. As well as elections across england, there were four police and Crime Commissioner votes in wales. Labour retained three of them, plaid cymru held dyfed powys. Let� s speak to the plaid cymru leader. Not a lot of voting to get her teeth into in wales are compared to england, of course, but as the results we have, three quarters of them labour. One plaid cymru. Is that suggesting people are clearly not voting conservative, but are going with labour . If you look at the results across england, certainly it is a massive walloping for the conservatives, as we might expect. Not a case of labour sweeping the board, but this is a difficult election for us given it is the police and Crime Commissioner election, there is no plaid cymru voice at all in the local elections in england to getting your boys held scratch my head is difficult. What we have heard any dyfed powys result was a thumping win further police and Crime Commissioner retaining his role. They want it back with a great majority so a very good result there and labour and the conservatives well and truly rejected by the people of that part of wales. Just quickly and return it, because that part of wales. Just quickly and return it, because as that part of wales. Just quickly and return it, because as you that part of wales. Just quickly and return it, because as you say, that part of wales. Just quickly and | return it, because as you say, there are other elections going on at the same time, but 15. 6 , 16. 5 , 17. 1 . That is really low turnout, isn� t it . It that is really low turnout, isnt it . ,. , it . It is terrible for democracy, isnt it . My it . It is terrible for democracy, isnt it . My party it . It is terrible for democracy, isnt it . My party does it . It is terrible for democracy, isnt it . My party does not it . It is terrible for democracy, i isnt it . My party does not believe isn� t it . My party does not believe in having police and Crime Commissioners, we do not believe there should be the politicisation of the police and that kind of way, but if we have them, we put our values behind those elections. The turnout this time is very similar to the last ten there was a south Standing Police and Crime Commissioner election in wales, but it does show, doesn� t it, the importance of having widespread Campaigning Platforms that people can tune into. Having just that election in wales did not give us that chance. Where plaid cymru has been able to show people it makes a difference, it gets repaid in the trust of the electorate. That is why i congratulate David Llewellyn for that link result in dyfed powys. We that link result in dyfedpowys. We have the that link result in dyfed powys. We have the predicted National Share there from professor curtice, which is clearly from england, so the nine percentage point lead for labour party. Is it safe to assume in wales as in england, they will be considered double voting for labour if he General Election happens towards the end of the year, that will squeeze out plaid cymru . I do will squeeze out plaid cymru . I do not think that will squeeze out plaid cymru . I do not think that is will squeeze out plaid cymru . I if not think that is the case at all. We would expect keir starmer to go forward and be the next by minister of the United Kingdom unless something very, very dramatic happens. But that will happen regardless of how wales votes. That is why i fear that labour takes votes for granted in wales and plaid cymru says will not allow that. Just as we have seen labour even in this election year, when they� re meant to be on the march being beaten by the greens, the lib dems in some of england, it is plaid cymru� sjob that we can be that credible alternative. And yes, the context is difficult. In this kind of election it is all red versus blue, isn� t it . But when we can persuade people it doesn� t have to be, we have to hold red and blue� s feet to the fire, whoever is in charge at westminster a mixture wales� s voices heard, because they will not be heard by the conservatives or labour. Thank ou ve much for your time. We will cross back to england. This list in the end standing by. Where are you and what is happening . find end standing by. Where are you and what is happening . What is happening . And Worthing Leisure Centre what is happening . And Worthing Leisure Centre and what is happening . And Worthing Leisure Centre and you what is happening . And Worthing Leisure Centre and you can what is happening . And Worthing Leisure Centre and you can see. What is happening . And worthing| Leisure Centre and you can see the Counting Hole has emptied out behind me, and any Labour Supporters who were here i� m sure any local Pub Restaurant celebrating a historic victory. There were two counts here, both Adur Borough Council and worthing district council. Adur had a historic result because labour have never had control of it and adur was the only Borough District Council in a sussex led by the conservatives. Labour were targeting it and hoping to gain six seats. In the end, they gained eight, a real Landslide Victory to take hold of adur after 21t years under the same leader who was obviously rather upset by that result. Leader who was obviously rather upset by that result. Thank you very much for that. Upset by that result. Thank you very much for that. Even upset by that result. Thank you very much for that. Even though upset by that result. Thank you very much for that. Even though youre l upset by that result. Thank you very| much for that. Even though youre in much for that. Even though you� re in an empty hole, we were seeing the pictures of people running at the same time, so thank you very much for that. Same time, so thank you very much forthat. Let� s same time, so thank you very much for that. Let� s quickly take you back to northallerton, just keeping across the screen is here, and just to let you know if we do rudely interrupt anyone over the next few minutes, it is because we will come back here because labour have won their in rishi sunak� s by minister� s back yard. Dashing the pinus� s back yard. Apologies to correspondence around the country and guests. We are waiting to hear from around the country and guests. We are waiting to hearfrom keir starmer who we assume will clamber that a small stage and as soon as he does, we will be back there. One of the most Eye Grabbing Lines from the analysis of the night was the last time the conservatives performed as badly in local elections was way backin badly in local elections was way back in 1995. That, if you remember, wasjust two back in 1995. That, if you remember, was just two years before they were crushed at the General Election by tony blair. Nick eardley has been taking a look at the numbers and what we can learn from them. On the whole, the picture is pretty bleak for the tories. Let me show you this. First of all, this is the vote share compared to 2021 with these seats were last contested. Now, remember, in 2021, borisjohnson was leader. There was a bit of a bounce after the vaccine rollout. But look what� s happened since. Look at the change in the last three years. That� s the tory vote change down 14 . That is pretty big. It� s also worth just looking through some councils where the conservatives used to be in power but aren� t any more, in part because of this. Have a look here at redditch. A bit of a bellwether seat. We� ve been saying that all morning. It� s an area where the parties think that the result is pretty indicative of how the country is feeling. Look at that. The conservatives have lost 11 seats. Labour won ten. And it means that this long line of blue down here is done. This is now a labour controlled council. Let� s have a look at another one rushmoor in hampshire again, the conservatives have lost eight seats, labour have won seven. A long line of blue has come to an end. It� s now a labour controlled council. Finally, hartlepool was an area where the conservatives have been doing all right in recent years, particularly after brexit it voted 70 leave in the brexit referendum. Well, look what happened overnight. The conservatives lost six seats, labour won eight, and this went from a hung council to one that is now controlled by the labour party. Now the big question a lot of people in westminster are trying to work out is what this means for a General Election. By elections are different, but there was an important by election overnight in Blackpool South won, as we� ve been reflecting, by labour. Look what happened to the conservative vote. That is really bad down by almost a third. Most of that going to labour, some of it going to reform, the successor to nigel farage� s brexit party. But if you� re a tory mp setting this morning trying to figure out what this means for your election prospects, there is no graphic that� s going to worry you more than that 26 swing from the conservatives to labour. That is huge. That is the third biggest swing from the tories to labour since world war two. There have been a lot of byelections recent ly where this sort of thing has happened. It� s become a pattern that will really, really worry conservative mps. Thank you to nick for that. But in the government because my Point Of View this morning. I mean, obviously, this is disappointing results. There were, as you all know, very specific local circumstances for this byelection. And it� s unsurprising given the circumstances in which the mp stood down. But a 26 swing the third biggest swing since world war two, this is a record rejection of the conservative party to the labour party. Yeah, there was also a lot of people voting for reform in this byelection and i think what we� ve seen here just shows that actually a vote for reform is a vote for keir starmer� s labour party. Well, let� s talk about reform. They nearly beat the conservatives. There� s only 100 odd votes in it. Yes, absolutely. And as i said, what this shows very, very clearly is that if you vote for reform, you are voting for keir starmer� s labour party, a labour party who will not act to control illegal migration. Who have no plan for our country and will take us backwards in terms of the economic progress that we� re making. The reform party didn� t Stand Councillors in every available seat. But they did put their focus on the Blackpool South by election and they came a close third to the conservatives. Here� s the result their candidate came in just 117 votes behind their conservative rival, securing 17 of the vote. I spoke to the leader of reform uk richard tice and asked him if he was pleased with the result or frustrated not to have done better. It would have been great, of course, but nevertheless we� re delighted with 17 . It� s above our National Polling average. It� s our best byelection result, and what it shows actually with great local candidates, more and more people are hearing about reform and they like the message that they hear. And of course, everybody knew that labour was going to win this. But if you look at the collapse in the tory vote there, they went from 50 down to 17 . I mean, this is a seismic, seismic shift. What about the idea for voters that actually you did very well given the National Vote share and all the things that you just mentioned there. No one will dispute that, but it� s still nowhere near actually winning a seat. So what does that say to voters in a General Election . That says we� ve got the wrong Electoral System in this because it� s patently unfair. If you� re getting 17 of the votes across the country, but because of our system, you can� t get any seats, then that actually shows that democracy is not working. That� s why most western nations have some form of Proportional Representation. Here� s the great irony now the tories are collapsing so fast that very soon they� ll be begging to have Proportional Representation to stop a complete annihilation of the tory party. Wouldn� t that be a thing . Ok, interesting. Electoral reform has been high on the agenda of parties like the Liberal Democrats for a long time. No such shift in the offing. Let� s talk about. Away from blackpool� s south, then, the rest of the evening. What� s your assessment of reform uk� S Performance . Well, the First Council vote results that were out were actually in sunderland in the north east. And as i say, we beat the tories in 16 of 25 wards, again significantly outperforming our National Polling share. And we� re delighted we� ve got some very important mayoral results being counted over the next day and a half and again in the north east and in manchester, i think we could surprise people on the upside. What� s rapidly becoming clearer is basically as more people hear about reform, we� re becoming the real opposition to the labour party in the north, in the midlands, in wales. We� re on the way up and it� s quite clear that the tories are on the way down. Thank you to richard tice speaking to me a little earlier. We will get an update from Dudley Council election. Hello, emma, talk us through what is happening. This is stourbridge through what is happening. This is stourbridge where through what is happening. This is stourbridge where the through what is happening. This is stourbridge where the account through what is happening. This is stourbridge where the account is i stourbridge where the account is just over halfway in terms of the declarations in the dudley Borough Council election. It is often known as the political bellwether Black Country because both the Borough Council and number of parliamentary constituencies we have here are known from swinging from labour to conservatives. The authority went into this because my collection conservative controlled and it has been so since 2021. During the last few months, the conservative majority has dwindled to take this ten seats, in part because a number of their councillors have defected to become independent. We have been counting since tenney, we are just over halfway. I believe the latest figures i have are 22 labour seats, 22 conservative seats so far, only one independent we have been counting since tenney m. It is all out election here due to boundary changes so all seats up for grabs, and mathematically so much can change. I am told turnout is up by 5 compared to last year potentially because people have had a lot to vote for this year. Three councillors for each word, the West Midlands mayor, and the police and Crime Commissioner. It is too early to call where this is going to go. There are not that many clear signs. Labour have made three games, only one of those is from and in return, the conservatives have made a gain from labour. Very interesting atmosphere, very tense, waiting to see. It is neck and neck between the other conservatives and labour but still around a third of the seats to declare. There are four conservative mps wandering around and have some or all of their constituency within dudley borough, so they will be looking to see closely how this result reflects what we could anticipate for the General Election, potentially sometime later this year. Potentially sometime later this ear. , g , year. Interesting. Just tell us,. Ive year. Interesting. Just tell us, tive us year. Interesting. Just tell us, give us an year. Interesting. Just tell us, give us an idea. Year. Interesting. Just tell us, give us an idea. You year. Interesting. Just tell us, give us an idea. You said year. Interesting. Just tell us, give us an idea. You said it. Year. Interesting. Just tell us, | give us an idea. You said it was halfway through voting there . When things expected to be Done And Dusted . When are we expecting to have the final count in there . That is the question have the final count in there . That is the question i have the final count in there . T� iat is the question i have heard many times this morning. We have been asking the team organising the Election Count when it might happen. To give you a hint, i wondered whether i would still be able to be in the hall at 6 30 to do a live into. � ,. , sorry to interrupt you, where going straight to northallerton because we have just seen keir starmer, straight to northallerton because we havejust seen keir starmer, The Labour Leader arrive. And as i mentioned, we will have to rudely interrupt whoever happens to be talking. I will be quite myself now and let� s hear from the talking. I will be quite myself now and let� s hearfrom The Labour Leader. And lets hear from The Labour Leader. , ~ ,. , and lets hear from The Labour Leader. , ~ ,. ,. , leader. Thank you for coming. This is a hue leader. Thank you for coming. This is a huge opportunity leader. Thank you for coming. This is a huge opportunity today leader. Thank you for coming. This is a huge opportunity today for is a huge opportunity today for joining together. It has been a lot of work over the last three or four months and we have been connected with the people of this region. And joining up with Southend West Church is built to create one big Yorkshire Labour and going on to bigger and Better Things south and west yorkshire. It is great to be here. The Prime Minister it is great to be here. The Prime Minister was it is great to be here. The Prime Ministerwas here. It is great to be here. The Prime Minister was here. This morning, the Prime Minister was here. This morning, the Prime Minister was here, he has now scarpered, and keir starmer is here in now scarpered, and keir starmer is here in the now scarpered, and keir starmer is here in the Prime MinisterS Constituency with the first ever mayor constituency with the first ever mayor for constituency with the first ever mayor for york and North Yorkshire, a mayor for york and North Yorkshire, 6 labour mayor for york and North Yorkshire, a labour mayor for york and North Yorkshire a labour mayor for york and North Yorkshire. David, you have run a superb yorkshire. David, you have run a superb campaign here in North Yorkshire superb campaign here in North Yorkshire. A campaign to be really proud yorkshire. A campaign to be really proud of yorkshire. A campaign to be really proud of. Hopeful, optimistic, with a great proud of. Hopeful, optimistic, with a great team here from across the region a great team here from across the region. Promises that were fully tested region. Promises that were fully costed and fully funded, Serious Business costed and fully funded, Serious Business experience, not a load of gimmicks business experience, not a load of gimmicks. And i know that as you put those gimmicks. And i know that as you put those pledges into practice, you will deliver four people from harrogate to helmsley, richmond to ripom harrogate to helmsley, richmond to ripon, scarborough to selby, and you will make ripon, scarborough to selby, and you will make a ripon, scarborough to selby, and you will make a fantastic mayor for this regiom will make a fantastic mayor for this regiom the will make a fantastic mayor for this region. The voters have sent a clear message region. The voters have sent a clear message today that even in the prem and s message today that even in the prem and s own message today that even in the prem and s own back yard, it is time for change and s own back yard, it is time for change. Under cares leadership, there change. Under cares leadership, there are change. Under cares leadership, there are no local areas for labour any more there are no local areas for labour any more it there are no local areas for labour any more. It is time now for a general any more. It is time now for a general so any more. It is time now for a general so voters can make their voice general so voters can make their voice heard general so voters can make their voice heard across the country. Labour voice heard across the country. Labour already to lead, rebuild Britain Labour already to lead, rebuild britain under cares leadership and it is my britain under cares leadership and it is my great pleasure to introduce my friend. It is my great pleasure to introduce my friend, our leader, keir starmer. Thank my friend, our leader, keir starmer. Thank you my friend, our leader, keir starmer. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Thank you so much york thank you very much. Thank you so much. York and thank you very much. Thank you so much. York and north thank you very much. Thank you so much. York and North Yorkshire, i thank you very much. Thank you so | much. York and North Yorkshire, we stand here and it is an amazing moment in history to have a Labour Victory here. We have had a really good results across the country all day long, but this is a very, very special moment to become the mayor here. Thank you to the team for all the fantastic work they have done. Through the villages and towns of North Yorkshire, people have voted for change. They have voted for labour, a changed labour party able to earn the trust and respect of voters in york and North Yorkshire, right in the Prime Minister� S Constituency. I think we are in hiS Constituency. I think we are in hiS Constituency now celebrating this victory. Sound cuts. It is vindication and a secial sound cuts. It is vindication and a special message sound cuts. It is vindication and a special message because sound cuts. It is vindication and a special message because here sound cuts. It is vindication and a special message because here in| york and North Yorkshire, it is a vote for change. People are fed up with a failed government and they have registered that here in the vote they cast yesterday. They are fed up with any master and division and chaos, the sewage, the hospitals that do not work, the infrastructure, the portals. I could go on and on and on, an absolute long list of failure. But it is not just turning our backs on failure, it is ushering in a changed labour party with a plan for britain, a plan for nhs to get it back on its feet. A plan for infrastructure and hospitals can i plan for our young people, to take back control of our streets and deal with anti social behaviour. We have had a positive campaign here and i am very, very proud to stand here as Leader Of The Labour Party to celebrate this historic victory. And it is a historic victory. And it is a historic victory. And it is a historic victory. These are places where we would not normally have had a labour Party Success and we have been able to create that success and persuade people to vote for us. I say to every Single Person who cast their vote for labour here yesterday, thank you for putting your trust in labour. We will not let you down. We have heard your message of change and we will deliverfor message of change and we will deliver for you message of change and we will deliverfor you a message of change and we will deliver for you a better britain. Thank you so much and well done, david. Cheering the leader of the Labour Party Sir keir starmer continuing his tour. Let� s see if he will do an interview now. Rishi sunak has lost. You haven� t won. You talk a lot about changing the party but not about your plans for the country. Is that why voters are unconvinced . I for the country. Is that why voters are unconvinced . Are unconvinced . I dont think an bod are unconvinced . I dont think anybody could are unconvinced . I dont think anybody could read are unconvinced . I dont think anybody could read the are unconvinced . I dont think| anybody could read the results are unconvinced . I dont think anybody could read the results here in york and North Yorkshire and to say that a labour has not won or the voters are unconvinced. This is a historic victory. The villages and towns of North Yorkshire, this is the heart of tory territory. We have taken our positive case to the voters who have voted in historically the new mayor here. That is a very important step. It is vindication for us of all the artwork we have done and it is not inconsistent with the pattern the country where we have seen that that across the whole country. It is a very good day for labour, a sign of real progress, and i do think that. Sound cuts out real progress, and i do think that. Sound cuts 0ut across the country, it is time for. Sound cuts out you sound cuts 0ut you could tell the Picture Quality and sound break up not really in there. It Picture Quality and sound breakup not really in there. Not really in there. It what generally not really in there. It what generally happens not really in there. It what generally happens at not really in there. It what| generally happens at these not really in there. It what generally happens at these events. Not really in there. It what generally happens at these events. And answers if you questions from journalists from different organisations just in front of where he spoke. He was implacable doing the same they are after that victory in Blackpool South and we got a jest and a sense of what he was staying there. A very happy Labour Leader right now. We will head to Dorset Council now. Our reporterjenny, is there for us. Tell us where you are and what has been happening. I am at we mouth and what has been happening. I am at weymouth where and what has been happening. I am at weymouth where the and what has been happening. I am at weymouth where the dorset and what has been happening. I am at weymouth where the Dorset Council i weymouth where the Dorset Council has been going for about an hour the count for Dorset Council. A bit of background for you, this is true blue area. The conservatives have had success at local government level, parliamentary level here, but the lib dems are hoping they can build on the gains they have had in by elections and local Council Elections in recent years and rebuild on their resurgence here in the south west. And they have been campaigning very hard. In the last few minutes, we have had around six results in. A four of those are conservative hold there are two lib dems seats, one was a hold. I am joined by the leader of any neighbouring council, vicky sloan. What is your feeling about how this is going today . We what is your feeling about how this is going today . Is going today . We are doing incredibly is going today . We are doing incredibly well, is going today . We are doing incredibly well, even is going today . We are doing incredibly well, even where l is going today . We are doing i incredibly well, even where we is going today . We are doing incredibly well, even where we are not winning, we are really running the conservatives a very, very close second the conservatives a very, very close second and the conservatives a very, very close second and im confident we should end p second and im confident we should end up as second and im confident we should end up as the Largest Group on the council end up as the Largest Group on the council. There are some really spectacular changes going on. We never spectacular changes going on. We never said spectacular changes going on. We never said a chance, we came within 22 votes never said a chance, we came within 22 votes of never said a chance, we came within 22 votes of a never said a chance, we came within 22 votes of a ward that was not even our target 22 votes of a ward that was not even our target list. We have celebrated our target list. We have celebrated our first our target list. We have celebrated ourfirst gain of our target list. We have celebrated our first gain of the day and there will be our first gain of the day and there will be many more to come. How has the campaign will be many more to come. How has the campaign been will be many more to come. How has the campaign been for will be many more to come. How has the campaign been for you will be many more to come. How has the campaign been for you and the campaign been for you and dorset . It the campaign been for you and dorset . , , the campaign been for you and dorset . ,. , dorset . It has been really positive. Dorset . It has been really positive. We dorset . It has been really positive. We have dorset . It has been really positive. We have lost i dorset . It has been really positive. We have lost a | dorset . It has been really positive. We have lost a jenny there, positive. We have lost a jenny there. As positive. We have lost a jenny there. As you positive. We have lost a jenny there, as you can positive. We have lost a jenny there, as you can see. Positive. We have lost a jenny there, as you can see. We positive. We have lost a jenny there, as you can see. We will i positive. We have lost a jenny i there, as you can see. We will be back with her a little later on. But now coming up to the top of the hour any minute now. Live from london. This is bbc news. Labour gains an mp, seven councils, and two mayors including one in rishi sunak� s own constitutency. Sir keir starmer says it� s clear voters want a change. They voted for change, they voted for labour, a changed labour party able to earn the trust and respect of North Yorkshire, right in the Prime Minister� S Constituency. The conservatives have lost more than 200 councillors in results the Prime Minister acknowledged were disappointing. But the tories hang on in a key mayoral race with ben houchen retaining his position in tees valley. They knew it would just stroll back to them they knew it would just stroll back to them but it did not. People knew that ben to them but it did not. People knew that ben could do for them. Liberal democrats make modest gains, with the Party Leader Sir Ed Davey calling on voters to make the conservative government history. And the bbc now projects that if a General Election had been held today, only a quarter of voters would have backed the conservatives. Welcome to bbc news. Results are coming in and still but it is clear the conservatives have suffered heavy losses while labour have made gains. Another blow for conservatives, they also lost