Local elections: Tories and Labour hit by Brexit backlash in polls

The Conservatives and Labour have faced a backlash at the ballot box over the Brexit deadlock, with smaller parties and independents winning seats.

In England so far, the Tories have lost more than 600 seats and 22 English councils overall, while the Liberal Democrats have gained nearly 400 seats.

National politics seems to have been a deciding factor for voters, with Labour also losing more than 90 seats to date.

Council results continue to come in for England and Northern Ireland.

Just over 140 English councils had declared by 13:30 BST, with counting under way elsewhere.

The Green Party has done well, adding nearly 80 seats so far, but UKIP has lost ground, with 60 fewer councillors at this stage than in 2015. Read more

Read also: Brexit Backlash in U.K. Local Elections as Main Parties Lose Seats