Local elections 2022: Labour takes Wandsworth for first time since 1974 as Partygate hits Tories – live updates | Local elections
Prominent Conservative MP and former minister Stephen Hammond has said his local Wimbledon area saw a high turnout of “angry Tories” voting against the Conservatives, adding that it ought to be a “clarion bell ringing in Downing Street to make sure we are concentrating on the cost of living”.
Speaking to the BBC, he said “Partygate” had been a big influence on voting.
He also said he wanted Boris Johnson to bring “talents back into the government”.
“Any government that doesn’t have people like Greg Clark and Jeremy Hunt clearly isn’t using all the talents available to it.”
Asked about Boris Johnson’s future, he said: “I think he has to prove his integrity to the country.”
A bit more analysis from professor of politics and polling expert John Curtice, who has told the BBC that turnout looks slightly down on other recent local elections.
On average the turnout is down by 1 percentage point on 2018 in the BBC’s key wards, and by 2.5 points on last year.
However, there is no sign that where turnout fell the most, the Conservatives particularly suffered as a result.
The latest snapshot of results across England from the BBC shows the Conservatives approaching triple digit council-seat losses, while Labour are up 28, the Lib Dems are up 44 and the Greens are up 20:
Conservative leader in Barnet concedes defeat
The Conservative leader of Barnet council Daniel Thomas says his party has lost control of the council, the BBC reports.
Thomas blamed his defeat on “a perfect storm of the cost of living crisis, 12 years of a Conservative government and redrawn boundaries”.
“This is a warning shot from Conservative supporters – a fair number just stayed at home,” he continued.
The issue of “Partygate” only came up “very occasionally”, he said, adding that he didn’t believe there has been “a huge conversion” to Labour.
The council has been under Conservative control since its creation in the 1960s, apart from an eight-year period from 1994 until 2002, when the Tories regained control.
Barnet has three Conservative MPs, who may now be worried about their seats.
Conservatives lose Barnet Council. Still waiting for the official declaration, but Labour happy with what they’re seeing. pic.twitter.com/ckcAarSbDz
— Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) May 6, 2022
While reports continue to suggest that Westminster could be another Conservative casualty tonight, Richmond is also apparently shaping up to be a bloodbath for the Tories with the BBC’s Lewis Goodall reporting the party is on track to lose ten councillors, leaving it with just one. The Lib Dems won control of the council from the Tories in 2018.
Looks like there’s only going to be 1 Tory left on Richmond council. Down from 11.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) May 6, 2022
History made in Wandsworth tonight as Labour take the council. Tories suffering big losses in Westminster – I’m on my way back there now. Updates as they happen on @TimesRadio https://t.co/Ba7Kun6dHh
— Charlotte Ivers (@CharlotteIvers) May 6, 2022
After losing Wandsworth, which is notable but not that surprising, Labour starting to make gains in Westminster as well. Tory sources suggesting that council may also be a casualty tonight which would be a surprise
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) May 6, 2022
Labour have reportedly won Barnet, another London council that was being closely watched.
Overheard Barnet Tory leader Dan Thomas graciously accepting defeat and wishing Barnet Labour leader the best running council
— lee harpin (@lmharpin) May 6, 2022
The Greens have been one of the big winners from Thursday’s elections, up 20 seats overall in England so far, bringing their total to 30.
Gains were made in Plymouth and Coventry, where they have celebrated their first ever seats, while they have also picked up a seat in the newly created council in Cumberland and in South Tyneside they were up three seats.
In Wirral, the Greens also added three seats, leaving them with eight.
The Conservatives have lost control of West Oxfordshire, David Cameron’s old patch, with no party winning an overall majority, according to the BBC’s election results stream.
NEW: Conservatives LOSE West Oxfordshire to NOC. David Cameron’s old patch. Tories have controlled it since 2000- lose their maj thanks to Lib Dem gains.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) May 6, 2022
A tweet from the Guardian’s deputy political editor Rowena Mason:
John McDonnell pointing out that Labour has picked up at least 3 more seats on Hillingdon council – including an Uxbridge ward in the heart of Boris Johnson’s constituency
— Rowena Mason (@rowenamason) May 6, 2022
Archie Bland
Ravi Govindia, the outgoing Tory leader of Wandsworth council, has told the BBC that local services were viewed positively by voters but that “other events have clouded the judgement of people in Wandsworth … Consistently on the doorstep the issue of Boris Johnson was raised.”
He suggested the cost of living crisis was also an issue and that Conservative supporters may have stayed home.
Labour wins Wandsworth from Conservatives
Wandsworth has been called for Labour, with Sky News reporting the party have so far won 32 seats, the Tories 22 and one seat won by an independent. It’s the first time Labour has won the council since 1974.
The Conservatives have lost control of Southampton council to Labour, local MP Royston Smith said.
Smith, MP for Southampton Itchen, told the BBC that Partygate and the prime minister’s integrity had “not really” come up with voters: “A lot of them were saying we’re just not interested in this nonsense”.
He said that the subject people were most interested in was “this worry about the cost of living.”
