party. embarrassing for the conservative pa . ., embarrassing for the conservative pa . . party. indeed. one detail, i saved the caveat party. indeed. one detail, i saved the caveat here party. indeed. one detail, i saved the caveat here is party. indeed. one detail, i saved the caveat here is not party. indeed. one detail, i saved the caveat here is not a party. indeed. one detail, i saved the caveat here is not a single - party. indeed. one detail, i saved| the caveat here is not a single seat has been declared. hearing from labour sources that they have done extremely well in the area of the city which is represented by the veterans minister and mpjohnny veterans minister and mp johnny mercer, veterans minister and mpjohnny mercer, inevitably, with these elections, potentially being the penultimate test of the mood before the general election, there will be a great deal of interest in whether these kind of results can be carried across onto a potential general election res
we can show you some pictures of stoke as well, which is the part of the country where politicians have been falling over themselves to press the flesh with voters, and medway in the south east, counting under way there as well. we will hear from under way there as well. we will hearfrom right under way there as well. we will hear from right across under way there as well. we will hearfrom right across england. with that in mind, let s start with chris. what is on the line for rishi sunak? it is the first verdict for him of the election, as it is for any political leader on a night like this, because all of the focus in westminster is on opinion polls. those can be dismissed by a political leader who will say it is just an opinion poll. but these are real votes in real ballot boxes electing real politicians who are running vital public services, and that matters obviously at a local level, but it matters massively to the mood of the national parties. what rishi sunak has managed to do
results overnight. i think it demonstrates, actually, from where we are demonstrates, actually, from where we are in demonstrates, actually, from where we are in 2019 when these elections are last we are in 2019 when these elections are last fight, which, of course, was are last fight, which, of course, was before are last fight, which, of course, was before we were brought to a crushing was before we were brought to a crushing defeat in the general election crushing defeat in the general election that the labour party in terms election that the labour party in terms of election that the labour party in terms of policy, in terms of organization and in terms of leadership is very much back in business leadership is very much back in business and in a position where we can win business and in a position where we can win the business and in a position where we can win the next general election and beyond tonight, that will be the focus and beyond tonight, that will
maker for the parties and gives them a sense of, firstly, whether their own intelligence turned out to be right and secondly, is there come banding ortake right and secondly, is there come banding or take needs or ground operations or local media officers or digital approach are working or not? are they focusing on the right areas and put in their resources into areas they can maximise the benefit? it s a hugely important intelligence for them in the year or 18 months whatever it turns out to be, in a general election. iloathe be, in a general election. who knows what will happen be, in a general election. who knows what will happen by be, in a general election. who knows what will happen by then? be, in a general election. who knows what will happen by then? but - be, in a general election. who knows what will happen by then? but it - be, in a general election. who knows what will happen by then? but it is i what will happen by then? but it is a statistic people look at. rita, g
discussion during the course of the night discussion during the course of the night about whether or not the requirement to show voter id has in fact had requirement to show voter id has in fact had an requirement to show voter id has in fact had an impact on the level of participation in these local elections. | participation in these local elections- participation in these local elections. . . participation in these local elections. . , ,. ,, elections. i am sure we will discuss that. elections. i am sure we will discuss that- there elections. i am sure we will discuss that. there has elections. i am sure we will discuss that. there has already elections. i am sure we will discuss that. there has already been - elections. i am sure we will discuss that. there has already been a - that. there has already been a statement from the electoral commission about that and there have been anecdotal reports of things going on in the country and we will do our best to give people t