THE Tories were humiliated as they lost more than 1,300 seats at local elections - the party's worst result for 24 years.

Conservatives lost control of 44 councils as fuming Brits abandoned them - but Labour also lost seats in a terrible result for Jeremy Corbyn's party.

13 Theresa May today after a local elections backlash

13 The PM spoke in North Wales this afternoon

13 Jeremy Corbyn pictured in Trafford this morning Credit: Reuters

Theresa May was braced for big losses with pollsters predicting 800 of the party's councillors would be kicked out, but the actual result turned out to be even worse than the direst predictions.

It was the Tories' worst local election showing since the low point under John Major when they lost more than 2,000 seats in 1995.

Mrs May vowed to listen to voters who dealt a bloody nose to both main parties, and finally deliver on the EU referendum result.

Speaking in North Wales today, she said: "These were always going to be difficult elections for us and there were some challenging results for us last night. But it was a bad night for Labour too.

"I think there was a simple message from yesterday's elections to both us and the Labour party - just get on and deliver Brexit."

On a visit to Trafford - one of just a handful of Labour gains as the party lost six councils overall - Jeremy Corbyn said: "I wanted us to do better, of course.

"We've lost some seats across the country, of course I acknowledge that - we've also had swings to Labour in a number of places and also gained seats in several places."

Labour failed to make the gains they wanted in key areas - and lost councils such as Darlington, Walsall and Hartlepool.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems gained control of ten councils and added more than 700 seats. And hundreds more independent candidates won than when the same seats were contested four years ago.

Neither Nigel Farage's Brexit Party nor the pro-EU Change UK was standing in the local elections, and turnout was expected to be very low.

But a reported 30,000 angry voters spoiled their ballot papers, many in protest at Brexit delays.

If the results were mirrored in a general election, the Tories and Labour would be tied on 28 per cent each with the Lib Dems winning 19 per cent.



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Polls closed at 10pm on Thursday in 248 council areas of England, as well as the whole of Northern Ireland - and results have been coming in throughout Friday. So far:

The Tories have lost 44 councils and Labour dropped six

Lib Dems picked up hundreds of seats and declared victory overnight

Greens and Independents also made gains as the big parties suffered

Furious Brexit voters spoiled their ballots rather than back either main party

The PM was heckled by a Conservative activist as she gave a speech

Jeremy Corbyn's team admitted they will have to help Theresa May deliver on our EU exit

Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis said this morning it had been a "tough night" but he urged Labour to "stop up and respect the referendum".

And Jeremy Hunt admitted the results "look like a slap in the face for both the main parties", while Scottish Tories chief Ruth Davidson said: "It seems to be a plague on both your houses."

Tory MP Vicky Ford said she was "gutted" to see Chelmsford council go to the Liberal Democrats overnight. "It's been brutal," she said.

Party veteran Sir David Amess blasted: "The results are absolutely dreadful" - and called on the PM to quit as soon as possible.

Ex-minister Mark Francois warned the Euro elections later this month would be even more disastrous, saying: "In a tsunami the sea goes out, and comes crashing back in.

"This is the sea going out. May 23 will be an absolute tsunami."

GRASSROOTS REVOLT

But grassroots Tories across the country vented their fury and disappointment with their party after a difficult night for them.

Tony Berry, the leader of the Tories on Cotswold District Council, who have lost the council to Liberal Democrats after 16 years in charge, blasted: "I would ask [Theresa May] to consider her position very carefully".

He blamed Brexit and "professional politicians who are basically working for themselves rather than necessarily what is best for the country."

Even top Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg was hit by the backlash - as the Tory councillor for his Somerset neighbourhood was beaten by a Lib Dem.

Defeated Tim Warren said last night that people wanted to "punish us for a lack of action in Government."

"There needs to be a change in action," he stressed. "The electorate have spoken tonight and they have been very angry."

Gutted to have lost many outstanding councillors who have made a huge difference to local communities and improved services all across Chelmsford. It’s been brutal. — Vicky Ford MP (@vickyford) May 3, 2019

Strikes me that on the basis of the results in so far - the message to both main parties is “plague on both your houses”. People are voting for change and change is indeed coming @TheIndGroup #Elections2019 — Anna Soubry (@Anna_Soubry) May 3, 2019

A clearly frustrated Donna Jones, the Conservative group leader on Portsmouth City Council said: "I think [Mrs May] needs to take a look at how many councillors we’ve lost overnight, wake up in the morning and think about how she thinks the Conservative party needs to put its best foot forward."

And Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin told the BBC: "People are very disillusioned, that the country made a decision and the politicians haven't implemented.

"[Theresa May] still has a degree of personal sympathy but people think it’s time for a change.

"They can see she’s lost the plot, she’s not in control of events."

Ex-Cabinet minister Priti Patel said the pitiful message she was getting on the doorstep from voters showed her it was time for the PM to go.

"People have very categorically said she is part of the problem," she said.

"Our party leadership needs to make some very, very serious decisions. Many of my constituents have said we need a change of leadership. Perhaps the time has come for that."

13 One of the ballot papers put in their own vote for the Brexit Party in yesterday's local elections Credit: Twitter

13 Some said it was time for May to go and we had to come out of the EU as a protest in the local elections Credit: Twitter

13 Brexit means Brexit, one voter wrote Credit: Twitter

13 Another said there was no one they could vote for Credit: Twitter

Labour were tipped to pick up seats from the Tories, but so far haven't been making any gains.

The news will be a blow to the party's hopes of forcing a General Election and taking power in No10 - as Labour are nowhere near on the right course.

Tory sources said at this point under Ed Miliband the party had gained 500 seats, meaning Mr Corbyn is trailing far behind.

But Labour stressed that they were a tough set of elections in mostly areas that leaned towards the Tories - and there were lots of local factors at play too.

The party's vow to back a second referendum appeared to have put voters off in the North and Midlands as their share of the vote took a tumble.

But it picked up some votes in the South - where some voters are keen on the idea of another vote and remaining in the EU - and secured control of Trafford council.

LABOUR FLOP

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said this morning: "So far message from local elections - 'Brexit - sort it.' Message received."

His words will be seen as a huge hint Labour will be on board to do a deal with the Tories to force Brexit through in the coming weeks.

MP Ruth Smeeth said it wasn't good news in her area of Stoke on Trent last night. She said: "The leadership needs to look at these results very carefully. This is a strong leave area and my constituents just don’t trust us to deliver.

"We need clear messaging from the top. Messing around just isn't working. I want to deliver Brexit for my constituents."

Furious Sunderland council leader Graeme Miller said the party’s Brexit policy was to blame for losing 10 seats in his patch.

He said: "Sunderland voted as a city to leave in June 2016, and having had a Labour message across the city from MPs saying we need to be having a second referendum, people in Sunderland have said ‘we are just not accepting that.'"

This is a strong leave area and my constituents just don’t trust us to deliver Labour MP Ruth Smeeth

One MP told Sky earlier: "You stand in the middle of the road and you get run over in both directions. Corbyn must go. He is killing our party and our country."

The Lib Dems declared victory today - leader Vince Cable said: “The Liberal Democrats are the big winners of this year’s elections, with already our best result for over 15 years and more gains expected today.

“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."

The results could trigger a fresh challenge to Mrs May as panicked Tories guard against disaster in the EU elections on May 23 as well as the next General Election.

Counting will continue well into Friday in some areas, so the full results won't be known until this afternoon or evening.

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We’ll see what final results of local elections look like by end of day as they are pretty mixed geographically up to now but so far message from local elections- “Brexit - sort it.” Message received. — John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) May 3, 2019

Labour MP says Brexit voters don't believe Labour will take us out of the EU - and its losing them seats

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COUNCIL RESULTS SO FAR Sunderland - Labour hold Chorley - Labour hold Halton - Labour hold South Tyneside - Labour hold Havant - Conservative hold Wigan - Labour hold Broxbourne - Conservative hold Sandwell - Labour hold Newcastle - Labour hold Harlow - Labour hold Liverpool - Labour hold Oldham - Labour hold St Helens - Labour hold Epping Forest - Conservative hold Sefton - Labour hold Wolverhampton - Labour hold Exeter - Labour hold Tameside - Labour hold Hartlepool - Labour LOSE to No Overall Control Barnsley - Labour hold Swindon - Conservative hold Castle Point - Conservative hold Sunderland - Labour hold Hart - No Overall Control - hold Rochford - Conservative hold Brentwood - Conservative hold Basildon - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Lincoln - Labour hold Tandridge - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Rushmoor - Conservative hold Wirral - Labour lose to No Overall Control Salford - Labour hold North Tyneside - Labour hold Coventry - Labour hold Bolton - No Overall Control - no change Stevenage - Labour hold Rochdale - Labour hold North Warwickshire - Conservative hold Southampton - Labour hold Tamworth - Conservative hold Walsall - Conservative gain from Labour Stockport - No Overall Control - no change Thurrock - No Overall Control - no change Bury - Labour hold St Albans - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Wakefield - Labour hold Reading - Labour hold Eastleigh - Liberal Democrats hold Peterborough - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Colchester - No Overall Control - no change Derby - No Overall Control - no change Southend on sea - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Rugby - Conservative hold Ipswich - Labour hold Barrow in Furness - Labour hold Worcester - Conservative loss to No Overall Control Cambridge - Labour hold Brocknell Forest - Conservative hold Wokingham - Conservative hold Plymouth - Labour hold Maldon - Conservative hold Boston - Conservative hold Kingston Upon Hull - Labour hold South Lakeland - Lib Dem hold North East Lincolnshire - Conservative gain from No Overall Control Leeds - Labour hold North West Leicestershire - Conservative hold Slough - Labour hold Hertsmere - Conservative hold Trafford - Labour gain from No Overall Control Luton - Labout hold Dudley - No Overall Control - No Change Melton - Conservative hold Winchester - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative North Norfolk - Liberal Democrat gain from No Overall Control New Forest - Conservative hold Welwyn Hatfield - Conservative lose to No Overall Control East Hertfordshire - Conservative hold Nottingham - Labour hold South Holland - Conservative hold Derbyshire Dales - Conservative hold Cotswold - Lib Dem gain from Conservative Braintree - Conservative hold Folkestone and Hythe - Con lose to No Overall Control Ashfield - Independents gain from No Overall Control Dartford - Conservative hold West Lindsay - Conservative hold Bolsolver - Labour loss to No Overall Control Test Valley - Conservative hold North Kesteven - Independent gain from Conservative Bath and North East Somerset - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Hinckley and Bosworth - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative East Riding of Yorkshire - Conservative hold Medway - Conservative hold Windsor and Maidenhead - Conservative hold Broxtowe - Conservative lose to No Overall Control North Devon - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative North Lincolnshire - Conservative hold Chelmsford - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Torbay - No Overall Control - no change East Hampshire - Conservative hold Dacorum - Conservative hold Somerset West and Taunton - Liberal Democrat gain (new council) South Gloucestershire - Conservative hold South Kesteven - Conservative hold Tendring - Conservative loss to No Overall Control Stoke-on-Trent - No Overall Control - no change Vale of White House - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative South Oxfordshire - Conservative loss to No Overall Control Gateshead - Labour hold Blackburn with Darwen - Labour hold Amber Valley - Labour gain from Conservative West Oxfordshire - Conservative hold Tunbridge Wells - Conservative hold Worthing - Conservative hold Hyndburn - Labour hold Burnley - Labour lose to No Overall Control Knowsley - Labour hold Herefordshire - Conservatives lose to No Overall Control Cannock Chase - Labour lose to No Overall Control Redditch - Conservative hold West Suffolk - Conservative gain (new council) Watford - Lib Dems hold Sheffield - Labour hold Kirklees - Labour hold Craven - Conservatives lose to No Overall Control North Hertfordshire - Conservatives lose to No Overall Control Maidstone - No Overall Control - no change Milton Keynes - No Overall Control - no change Gedling - Labour hold South Somerset - Lib Dem hold East Cambridgeshire - Conservative hold Calderdale - Labour gain from No Overall Control Rossendale - Labour hold Stratford-on-Avon - Conservative hold Fenland - Conservative hold West Lancashire - Labour hold Mid Suffolk - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Darlington - Labour lose to No Overall Control Solihull - Conservative hold Pendle - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Breckland - Conservative hold Elmbridge - No Overall Control - no change Manchester - Labour hold West Devon - Conservative hold Newark & Sherwood - Conservative hold Warwick - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Three Rivers - Lib Dem hold Babergh - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Bradford - Labour hold Hambleton - Conservative hold Erewash - Conservative hold Lichfield - Conservative hold Mole Valley - Lib Dem gain from Conservative Bromsgrove - Conservative hold Malvern Hills - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Woking - No Overall Control - no change Great Yarmouth - Conservative hold Wychavon - Conservative hold Bassetlaw - Labour hold South Norfolk - Conservative hold Mendip - Conservative lose to No Overall Control East Staffordshire - Conservative hold Stockton-on-Tees - Labour lose to No Overall Control Blackpool - Labour hold Staffordshire Moorlands - Conservative lose to No Overall Control South Staffordshire - Conservative hold Stafford - Conservative hold Blaby - Conservative hold Leicester - Labour hold Wyre Forest - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Sedgemoor - Conservative hold Rushcliffe - Conservative hold Eden - Conservative lose to No Overall Control South Hams - Conservative hold Forest of Dean - No Overall Control - no change Middlesbrough - Labour lose to No Overall Control Teignbridge - Lib Dem gain from No Overall Control Basingstoke & Deane - Conservative hold Copeland - Labour hold Preston - Labour hold Carlisle - No Overall Control - no change Ribble Valley - Conservative hold North Somerset - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Broadland - Conservative hold High Peak - Labour gain from Conservative Tewkesbury - Conservative hold Richmondshire - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Redcar & Cleveland - No Overall Control - no change Selby - Conservative hold Ashford - Conservative hold Swale - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Central Bedfordshire - Conservative hold North East Derbyshire - Conservative gain from Labour Wealden - Conservative hold Charnwood - Conservative hold Ryedale - No Overall Control - no change Uttlesford - Independent gain from Conservative Rutland - Conservative hold Harborough - Conservative hold Dover - Conservative hold Chichester - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Oadby & Wigston - Lib Dem hold Fylde - Conservative hold Eastbourne - Lib Dem hold Sevenoaks - Conservative hold Norwich - Labour hold Gravesham - Labour gain from No Overall Control Cherwell - Conservative hold Mid Devon - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Wyre - Conservative hold Torridge - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Epsom & Ewell - Independent hold Runnymede - Conservative hold Surrey Heath - Conservative hold East Suffolk - Conservative gain (new council) Reigate & Banstead - Conservative hold Canterbury - Conservative hold Chesterfield - Labour hold South Derbyshire - Conservative hold Tonbridge & Malling - Conservative hold Scarborough - No Overall Control (no change) King's Lynn & West Norfolk - Conservative hold Lewes - No Overall Control (no change) Crawley - Labour hold Horsham - Conservative hold Thanet - No Overall Control (no change) Guildford - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Cheshire West & Chester - Labour lose to No Overall Control South Ribble - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Rother - Conservative lose to No Overall Control Brighton & Hove - No Overall Control - no change Arun - Conservative loss to No Overall Control Lancaster - Labour loss to No Overall Control Dorset - Conservative gain (new council) Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole - No Overall Control (new council) Spelthorne - Conservative hold East Lindsey - Conservative hold

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Polling guru Sir John Curtice said Labour and the Tories are "losing ground where they were previously strongest".

Last night's results were a "plague on all your houses", he added.

Meanwhile Boris Johnson was red-faced after he tweeted that he'd voted in today's locals - only to be told there weren't any in his area in Hillingdon.

What happened in last night's elections? BOTH Labour and the Tories have been hit by a huge Brexit backlash as the results from yesterday’s elections continue to flood. Theresa May’s party has lost out badly in the South East and South West - in some of their most traditional seats. The Liberal Democrats have reason to cheer this morning as they turned Chelmsford and the Cotswolds yellow again. And the Tories have lost more than a dozen councils of their own as voters lost patience with them. Some of that will be out of sheer frustration with the Tories, but some of it will be from Remainers determined to use the ongoing Brexit battle to push for a second referendum. Tories are, understandably, irritated with last night’s results, which have them down more than 300 seats. Grassroots activists and MPs are renewing their calls for Mrs May to go this morning, saying she’s the reason for the bloodbath in the polls. But in reality it’s far better than the numbers which had been predicted - partly this is good expectations management for the Tories. Meanwhile, Labour have suffered from huge drops in their vote in their Northern and Midland heartlands - with many votes going to independent candidates instead. They’ve lost Hartlepool, Wirral, Bolsolver and Walsall councils overnight, and only managed to gain one - Trafford. They’ve picked up a few chunks of votes in the South - possibly because of their promise to fight for a second referendum - but it’s not outweighed by the amount they’ve lost in the North. MPs said it was proof that their strategy of sitting on the fence to keep everyone happy just wasn’t working, and they needed to show they could be trusted to deliver Brexit.

13 Counting getting underway in Bath and North East Somerset for the local elections 2019 Credit: � Terry Harris

13 Volunteers in Sunderland get a move on Credit: North News and Pictures

13 Bolton stayed in No Overall Control last night as the results came in Credit: London News Pictures

Theresa May becomes first Tory leader in 185 years to face emergency grassroots vote demanding her resignation

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