UKIP collapse sees mixed results for other parties

In the first England-wide local election since the General Election, the Labour and Conservative parties have both experienced mixed results, winning and losing control of key councils.

Although results are still filing in, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has lost 92 council seats, winning only two seats in Derby, emphasising the decline in electoral support since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016.

With 4,371 seats being contented for across the country, there has not been any stand-out victories or losses, with much of the voting having matched predictions and general consensus.

However, one will feel that Labour will be slightly more disheartened by the results, having failed to win its targeted London seats in Wandsworth and Westminster, but did win back Plymouth from the Conservatives and became the dominating party in Trafford. Trafford Council is viewed by many as the Conservative’s flagship northern council, representing its only council in Greater Manchester. However, Labour did lose control of Nuneaton and Bedworth in Warwickshire, and Derby where its council leader lost his seat to UKIP.

Despite losing out in Plymouth, the Conservatives won control of Barnet Council in north London, Basildon in Essex and the much-targeted Swindon Council, despite a strong Labour campaign there. Despite ongoing criticism of their handling of the Grenfell Tower fire, the Tories also detained control in Kensington and Chelsea Council.

In one of the biggest gains of the voting, the Liberal Democrats regained control of Richmond, in West London, from the Conservative’s and gained and retained seats elsewhere, included in Kingston-upon-Hull and Sutton in south-west London.

Elsewhere, running on the fraction of the budget and resources, the Green Party took two seats off Labour in Sheffield, while also adding two new councillors in Trafford and one in Worcester.