Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has faced a blow in his government’s last major test before the UK’s looming general election.
As results drifted in from Thursday’s council and local elections on Friday, the initial read was a loss of 191 council seats and control of three councils by the Conservatives.
Labour won five in the meantime, gaining 78 seats, with a major win also coming for the opposition in the Blackpool South by-election.
The Liberal Democrats and Green Party also saw gains, adding 30 and 16 council seats respectively, while independents won 66 seats as one council was gained.
The first of the mayoral results showed Conservative Ben Houchen retained his seat in Tees Valley, in a slight consolation for Rishi Sunak’s government.
Star Sports analyst William Kedjanyi noted the “bleak set” of early results “saw things go from bad to worse for Rishi Sunak” ahead of the general election, which is yet to be called.