Starmer has spoken to activists just now amid Labour losses across the country. The picture is not full yet, some election watchers say Labour is not doing as badly as it could so far…
Reform is winning one in three of all seats contested so far. The PM said:
“The results are tough, they are very tough, and there’s no sugarcoating it… It hurts, and it should hurt, and I take responsibility. Tough days like this don’t weaken my resolve to deliver the change that I promised. They strengthen my resolve.”
In Tameside Labour lost control for the first time since 1979. Defence Secretary John Healey also rejected Miliband’s idea of a timetable for Starmer’s exit, telling the Today Programme: “It’s absolutely wrong now.” Wait and see…
Election guru John Curtice said: “Labour’s rate of seat loss were to continue to the end of tomorrow, they could be looking at losses of just over 1200 seats, rather less than some forecasts anticipated.” In London the Tories have retaken Westminster and wrestled Wandsworth to No Overall Control. The party has also held Bexley. Badenoch is chipper…
Farage has arrived in Havering – won by the party having taken 28/55 seats – and said “the best is yet to come… we are here to stay.” He tells election watchers to keep an eye on Sunderland, Cannock, and Wakefield…
Results will continue to roll in throughout the day and night. It’s the long haul…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”