First election results are in!

[Twiglets1]

First seat result of the night: Reform beat Conservatives in Brentwood.
(remember this is just one seat - not the result of the council).

Second result: Reform have taken a seat from Labour in Chorley.

Hmmm - as a general rule dismissing people who vote for a party (who you dislike) as stupid simply demonstrates greater level of stupidly.

Whereas understanding the reasons why someone votes for a party (that you dislike) and then addressing them or explaining them demonstrates a greater level of intelligence.

Brilliant to see the silent majority showing they want Reform. I think its great for green voters, as they will get imigration centre's in there local areas as they wanted. Its a win for everyone in the uk, maybe not for all those on mumsnet 😂😂😂😂

Am seeing some Labour MPs on TV this morning saying everything is going really well, we're doing a very good job and we need to do more of it.

They're the most unpopular government in history now.

They haven't got a clue how unpopular they are or why they're so unpopular.

Really? Sounds overly optimistic to put it mildly.

I’ve not seen any TV this morning as on a journey but that sounds a bit delusional.

Reform has won control of Essex county council.

In other news, Zoe Garbutt has won the Hackney Mayoral election for the Green Party. This is a major blow to Labour who normally dominate in Hackney.

Aren't you the public as well.

The Conservative Party has lost control of Suffolk council to Reform.

Though votes are still being counted, Reform has gained 37 councillors - securing the majority needed to hold the council.

Nearly 1,000 seats won by Reform now. Good show! Can’t wait until Restore Britain is ready to run in the general election! Time to turn things around.

100% agree. Only to add that Rupert Lowe is our man more than Nigel. Hopefully Restore Britain is ready to run by the time the general election comes around!

Wrong thread

The Green Party has won the second mayoralty in Lewisham, South East London.

Labour has clung onto its mayoralty in the London borough of Newham, despite fierce opposition from Independents.

The Labour leader of Camden council has lost his seat to the Green Party, in a significant result in Keir Starmer’s backyard.

The Green Party takes control of the first council (Norwich).

Norwich had been under no overall control, with Labour narrowly the biggest party on 19 seats and the Greens on 16.

Meanwhile, Reform takes Gateshead and Barnsley from Labour.

BBC summary:

• Plaid Cymru will be the largest party in the Welsh Parliament - but will fall short of a majority BBC forecasts
• It leaves Labour facing a historic defeat after 27 years in power; First Minister Eluned Morgan loses her seat
• In Scotland, the BBC projects the SNP will win the most seats in the Scottish parliament, but also fall short of a majority.

Labour loses Sunderland for the first time - Reform gains control of the Red Wall stronghold by securing 39 seats.

our whole town is up for re-election and it's overwhelmingly reform. I'm overwhelmingly sad

I’m surprised by how well Reform are doing in these local elections. I knew they were expected to make gains at the expense of Labour & the Conservatives (to a lesser degree), but this is more than I imagined.

My local town has stayed Labour so maybe I have been a bit unaware of the depth of feeling in other town’s & cities 🤷🏼‍♀️

Me too.

With 109 of 136 councils in England declared so far, this is how it’s looking at the moment:

Labour 24 (lost 23 councils and 1,045 councillors)

Lib Dem’s 13 (gained one new council- Portsmouth- & a further 88 councillors)

Reform 10 (gained 10 councils & a further 1,196 councillors)

Conservative 8 (lost 6 councils & 466 councillors)

Green Party 3 (gained 3 councils & a further 269 councillors)

Rather than be sad or dismiss Reform voters, have a think about why they are attracting so much support.

I know why they are attracting support in my area. There are few jobs, the city centre is run down, levelling up didn’t happen under the conservatives and nothing has changed with Labour. Since the mines closed there has been a big decline.
The population are poorer than average for England, with lower life expectancy especially in a few areas.

There is some resentment of immigrants and lots of England flags appeared on lampposts when the protests happened and a lot are still there.

My sadness is that Reform promised change and it just won’t happen, or won’t be for better. Also as someone British but not white I’m sad that for a small minority the vote really was just they want “the immigrants” out.