Labour gains Rushmoor

Rushmoor council will for the first time in its history be controlled by a Labour majority,

A spokesperson for the party said: “Rushmoor — the home of the British Army — has never had a majority Labour council before, and has been run by the Tories for the last 24 years.”

Labour wins Blackpool South by-election

Labour has won the Blackpool South by-election following the resignation of Conservative MP Scott Benton.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said: “This seismic win in Blackpool South is the most important result today. This is the one contest where voters had the chance to send a message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives directly, and that message is an overwhelming vote for change.

“The swing towards the Labour Party in Blackpool South is truly historic and shows that we are firmly back in the service of working people.

“Our new Labour MP Chris Webb has shown that after years of neglect with the Tories, there is a better alternative. The message to Rishi Sunak is clear. It’s time for change, it’s time for a general election.”

Local election results flood in

The votes have been counted overnight and several key battlegrounds have announced winners.

Stick with us here for live coverage of today’s election results…