Ukip make great gains in England council elections
Ukip has gained 85 council seats, making inroads across Tory and Labour councils. With counting continuing this morning, the results are, according to the BBC:
- Labour: 520 council seats (up 76), with a total of 26 councils
- Conservative: 416 council seats (down 94), with control of 15 councils
- Liberal Democrats: 106 council seats (down 74), and 1 council
- UK Independence Party: 86 council seats (up 85), not in control of any councils
Read: Ukip gains hurting all three major parties
Ukip will need to choose Westminster seats carefully
UKIP's successes in the local elections have raised the possibility of them winning a Westminster seat at the general election.
Labour in biggest danger of disappointment
A year ahead of the general election, Ed Miliband's party is seeing only patchy support in areas it should expect to gain ground.
Rotherham now Westminster target for UKIP
UKIP are likely to make Rotherham a key target for 2015 after a storming result in the local elections.