Conservatives suffer worst local election results in years – with London and West Midlands mayoral votes still to come
The Conservative Party has suffered its worst electoral defeat in years, losing more than half of its councillors who stood for re-election across England.
Labour hailed a “truly historic” result in Rishi Sunak’s own backyard of York and North Yorkshire, where David Skaith smashed Tory Keane Duncan by almost 15,000 votes.
The region, which was electing a mayor for the first time, covers Mr Sunak’s Richmond constituency and is an area Labour has historically struggled to compete in.
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The results as they come in
Speaking at Northallerton Town Football Club, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We’ve had a positive campaign here, and I am very, very proud to stand here as leader of the Labour Party to celebrate this historic victory.
“And it is a historic victory – these are places where we would not have usually had a Labour Party success but we’ve been able to create that success and persuade people to vote for us.”
Sir Keir also renewed his demand that the prime minister call a general election.
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‘This win is not a one-off’ – Starmer
The party also had successes in the North East and East Midlands mayoral votes and in the Blackpool by-election.
There was a sliver of hope for the government, with Lord Ben Houtchen holding on to his role as the mayor of Tees Valley.
Analysis: Labour’s future success is less clear-cut after the local elections
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PM on ‘disappointing’ election results
Appearing alongside Lord Houchen at a victory rally, Rishi Sunak said: “I’ve got a message for the Labour Party too because they know that they have to win here in order to win a general election – they know that.
“They assumed that Tees Valley would stroll back to them – but it didn’t.”
This victory is likely to have quelled talk of rebellion among disenchanted Tory MPs who had threatened to oust the prime minister if the results proved a disaster, but it remains to be seen whether the Tories can hold on to the West Midlands mayoralty.
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Analysis: Local election results
Of the 107 councils that held elections on Thursday, 102 have declared their full results, with the Conservatives losing more than half of the seats it has been defending so far.
Some 468 Tory councillors lost their seats as the party lost control of 12 councils.
Labour won control of eight councils as it gained 173 seats, while the Liberal Democrats gained 100 seats, the Greens 67, and Reform UK picked up two.
Read more:
The winners and losers
Charts tell story of Conservative collapse
Who is Labour’s new MP in Blackpool South?
However, Labour suffered setbacks in Oldham and Kirklees, where it lost control of the councils after victories for independent candidates opposing its stance on Gaza.
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Sky News elections analyst Professor Michael Thrasher says although the results are bad news for the Tories, they do not put Labour on course for an overall majority in the Commons in a general election.
Further results are expected over the weekend, including key mayoral contests in London and the West Midlands.
Labour’s Sadiq Khan is attempting to secure re-election in London, while Conservative Andy Street is defending his position in the West Midlands.
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Sky News general election projection
Rumours had swirled in London since the polls closed that Mr Khan could have suffered a shock defeat to Conservative Susan Hall, however Sky News understands both parties now believe the incumbent will remain in City Hall.
The results of those elections are expected to arrive at 10pm in London and 2.15pm in the West Midlands.
Lord Ben Houchen’s re-election on Teesside was a crumb of comfort for the Tories. Pic: PA
Other results still to be announced include council elections in the South and West of England where the Liberal Democrats and Greens hope to make progress.
There are also metro mayoral elections yet to declare a winner in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, North Tyneside, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
UK
Philip Young appears in Swindon court charged with 56 sexual offences against ex-wife – as five others also charged
A man has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period.
Philip Young, 49, formerly of Swindon, has been charged with 56 offences, including multiple counts of rape, against Joanne Young.
He is also charged with administering a substance to allow sexual activity, as well as voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme images.
Young appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning and spoke only to confirm his name and address.
He declined to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until the next hearing at crown court on 23 January.
Philip Young was remanded in custody
The 49-year-old was taken to court in Swindon on Tuesday morning
Five other men have also been charged with sexual offences against Ms Young between 2010 and 2023. The 48-year-old has waived her legal right to anonymity.
The other men are on bail but are due in the same court at 2pm.
They are: Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. He is a black British national and has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images.
Dean Hamilton, 47, of no fixed abode. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.
Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching
Richard Wilkins, 61, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching
Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon. He is a British Asian and has been charged with sexual touching.
The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023.
A Sandringham photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the Epstein files has resurfaced at a particularly uncomfortable moment for the Royal Family, just days before they gather at the estate for Christmas.
Andrew is set to move to the King’s private Norfolk estate in the next few months, after he was officially stripped of his titles, honours, and his large home on the Windsor estate.
The picture was among the thousands of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.
It shows Andrew lying across the laps of several women whose faces have been redacted.
Looking on and laughing is Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend.
The photo was taken in the stately saloon room at Sandringham House in Norfolk.
Prince Charles, now King Charles III, in the same room at Sandringham with Prince Edward in 1969. Pic: PA
Although the image is undated, we know Andrew organised a shooting weekend in 2000 for Ghislaine’s birthday.
It is a picture of intimate access to the inner royal sanctum.
Sandringham is a private royal retreat, and no one is invited here by chance.
Royal biographer, Andrew Lownie, said royal residences were used as “party places” by Andrew.
Andrew at the Royal Family’s Christmas Day service on the Sandringham estate in 2022. Pic: Reuters
“Epstein and Ghislaine took advantage of this,” he said. “They went to Balmoral, Sandringham and Windsor … This showed people just how close they were to the Royal Family.”
There’s no suggestion the wider family knew Epstein, but the timing is deeply awkward. This week Sandringham will once again host the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas gathering.
And the King will deliver his Christmas message to the country and Commonwealth.
Andrew isn’t invited to Sandringham and will be spending Christmas elsewhere. The Norfolk estate will soon become his new home; it’s understood the move will happen in the first quarter of next year.
A photo of the King at Sandringham released to mark his 77th birthday last month. Pic: @MilliePilks/Sandringham Estate
For years, Andrew let Epstein and Maxwell into his privileged world.
They were guests at the 18th birthday party of his daughter, Princess Beatrice.
Read more:
Outrage over incomplete Epstein file release
The links between Epstein and UK revealed in new files
Another photo released in the files shows Andrew, Epstein and Maxwell at Royal Ascot, a firm fixture in the royal calendar.
Epstein and his former girlfriend are also photographed at another shooting party, possibly at Balmoral.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell hunting, date unknown. Pic: US DOJ
We know the pair were once guests at the Scottish castle, pictured in the same lodge loved by the late Queen.
Mr Lownie said the pair enjoyed “extraordinary” access.
“It just shows how close Andrew was to them… for them to be socialising in these very private residences,” he added.
Andrew’s association with Epstein has cost him his royal roles, titles, and his beloved home.
He has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. Pic: PA
The images and documents released and revealed in the Epstein files contain graphic and traumatic content.
It is harrowing and retraumatising for Epstein’s victims.
And what continues to shock – is how a man like Jeffrey Epstein had proximity to the Royal Family. And why Andrew let it happen and stayed friends with him.
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