They use this Phrase Country first, party second. Keir starmers argument is he has to behave as he sees a british Prime Minister should and hes taking the stance that he would as Prime Minister. But there is no doubt there is evidence to suggest that that has been difficult for labour in some places, particularly those with a significant muslim population. Theres a prominent independent candidate, as you say, here in this contest, who has had a particular view on the conflict and the uk governments outlook on the conflict. And its a point of difference with the labour party. Now the question is, speaking to labour folk here, to what extent are they former labour voters going in the direction of an independent or people who might be motivated to vote for the independents who would have not backed labour otherwise . We shall see. The other factor here that is acknowledged by labour is that the local authority, the council here in birmingham, not the whole region by a long chalk, but the
The big message from the local ballot boxes so far is that The Conservatives remain in deep electoral trouble. Hi, good evening, its friday night, and we have a top Newsnight Panel for you tonight. Polling guru professor sirjohn curtice. Our own Political Editor nick watt. Emma barr, former conservative special advisor. And stephen bush from the financial times, who is an expert on labour. Now four of the five biggest vote swings in by elections from conservatives to labour have happened in the last year under sir keir starmer including Blackpool South yesterday. However not one further conservative mp has publicly called for rishi sunak to go, despite his party being, according to the experts, in deep electoral trouble. It was a very good night for labour, but theres an acknowledgement that some voters have deserted the party over its stance on gaza. All that and more to come. First, nick, pollsters say these results are bad for The Conservatives. Where does it leave rishi sunak . fi
South tyneside has been held by the labour party, 28 seats, the number needed for a majority but 15 have been taken by independent candidates and the 11 seats to the green party. We knew the greens were doing well, but look at that, labour losing ten and the independent party is gaining nine and the tories losing one and we will try to get to the bottom of what has gone on for quite a dramatic shift, so thatll be interesting and we will try to get to the bottom of that in the next a while after the news and i will say welcome to mark harper, the Transport Secretary who has just joined us and Jonathan Reynolds is still here and sarah olney from the Liberal Democrats and we will talk to you in a while. Lets tell you where things have got to in the total tally. Where things have got to in the totaltally. Labour where things have got to in the total tally. Labour have a9, gaining one and the Conservatives 19, losing 15. The lib dems 16. One and the Conservatives 19, losing 15. The lib dems
Police and Crime Commissioners. Katherine forster has the latest. Yes, dreadful results for the conservatives so far. Labour are buoyant. Much, much more still to come. But keir starmer, speaking a little bit earlier, saying its a shout from blackpool we want change. Are we heading to a Labour Government later this year . Later this year . Boris johnson was turned away from his local polling station after forgetting to bring an acceptable form of photo id. Did the same happen to anyone you know . So the morning after the night before, tories look like theyre waking up with a bit of a hangover and a bit of a headache. Theres still plenty to come though, but i think they would have known that this was going to be a bad time for them. I mean, its, you know, nobody knows what to do about them. Its very sad, but such is life. Its very sad, but such is life. I tell you what, im looking forward to the london Mayoral Election result, which comes tomorrow night. All eyes on that. And. Yeah lots