The latest headlines in your inbox
The latest headlines in your inbox
The Conservative party has lost more than 1,300 seats in the local elections in total, marking its worst performance in more than 20 years.
Theresa May said she had expected a tough time for her party, however the losses far surpassed prior predictions of an 800 seat decrease.
Even with gains the Tories were down by a net figure of 1,269, with the worst set of results for the Conservatives since John Major lost more than 2,000 seats in 1995.
As the 248 areas in England returned their verdicts both major parties saw major loses, with Labour also suffering a net if 63 losses.
Both party leaders suggested Brexit was behind their respective performances and Tory sources in one area said defeats were due to the “revenge of Brexit”.
Mrs May said: “These were always going to be difficult elections for us with us nine years into a government.
“Of course there is the added dimension we haven’t got the Brexit deal over the line.”
She also said the elections as a whole carried a “simple message” for both the Conservative and Labour parties: “Just get on and deliver Brexit.”
As well as losing the huge number of seats, at 1,334 according to the BBC, the Tories also relinquished control of more than 40 councils.
However, Mrs May deflected from her own party’s performance by underlining the losses of Labour.
“But of course it wasn’t a good night for Labour either – they were predicting they would make gains but they have lost over 100 seats.”
Commenting further on losses, she later said: “I also know that last night, I’m sorry to say, a good number of good local councillors across the country lost their seats.
“I’d like to thank all those councillors for all their hard work and effort that they’ve put in.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also commented upon Brexit and said there was an “impetus” for MPs to breach the current impasse.
“I think there has been a very clear message from people to both main parties that they want us to get on and deliver Brexit, so I welcome comments from Jeremy Corbyn that he thinks we should be working to ensure we can deliver a deal,” he said.
The biggest winners in the votes were the Lib Dems, who gained 676 seats.
Party leader Sir Vince Cable said: “Voters have sent a clear message that they no longer have confidence in the Conservatives, but they are also refusing to reward Labour while the party prevaricates on the big issue of the day: Brexit.”
Results from the local elections in England and Northern Ireland also showed a surge in support for independent councillors, many of whom represent tiny new parties.
Conservative politician Tim Warren, who lost his seat on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “The people that voted to remain blame us for leaving and the people that voted to leave blame us because we haven’t left yet.
“I think they want to punish us for a lack of action in government.”
Earlier in the day Mrs May was heckled as she addressed the Welsh Tory conference.
Former county councillor Stuart Davies shouted: “Why don’t you resign? We don’t want you.”
Meanwhile, Ukip lost 36 seats, the Greens gained 185 and independents went up by 242.
The Conservatives lost councils including Peterborough, Warwick and Worcester to no overall control.
While Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton fell to the Liberal Democrats, with North Kesteven going to independents.
However the party held on in the bellwether council of Swindon and took Walsall and North East Lincolnshire from no overall control.
Labour, meanwhile, lost control in Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Wirral as well as the mayoralty in Middlesbrough, where its vote was down 11 per cent as independent Andy Preston was elected.
However, it did gain control of Amber Valley from Tories.
Even where the party held on in its traditional stronghold of Sunderland, which voted heavily for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, it still lost 10 council seats.
