Follow the Politics Hub for all the latest updates as the results come in and watch our special programme hosted by Jonathan Samuels, with more coverage over the weekend as results continue to come in.
Vote counting is under way after a range of local elections took place across England and Wales.
More than 2,600 council seats across 107 councils are up for grabs in England, alongside 11 mayoral elections, a parliamentary seat and police and crime commissioners throughout England and Wales.
Early results saw Labour win Hartlepool Council from no overall control – something a spokesperson called “a ground-breaking moment” after their loss there in the by-election of 2021 – and they claimed victory in Thurrock, Essex, ahead of the formal declaration.
The party also held onto local authorities in Sunderland, Newcastle and South Tyneside, while the Conservatives held Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.
Sky News is covering the results overnight with a special programme hosted by Jonathan Samuels, and coverage into the weekend.
The results unfolding in the next hours and days will give an indicator of public opinion on the political parties as the UK heads towards a general election.
Labour is hoping to make gains across the country, while the Conservatives will hope to minimise losses as they sit around 20 points behind the opposition in the polls.
Keen attention will be paid to the mayoral races being held in the West Midlands and the Tees Valley – Red Wall seats that the Conservatives won under Boris Johnson with mayors Andy Street and Lord Ben Houchen respectively.
Losses there could prove difficult for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – with rumours that if both turn red it could spark a leadership contest.
Labour’s Sadiq Khan is hoping to win a record third term as the mayor of London, running against the Conservative’s Susan Hall, with 25 seats on the London Assembly also up for grabs.
