10 takeaways from local election results so far: not all splits are created equally
A pretty terrible set of election results for the Conservatives so far, with a major loss at the Blackpool South by-election and losing councillors at a historic rate, compounded in many places by Reform UK. For Labour, by Friday morning they’ve taken control of three symbolic councils in Hartlepool, Thurrock and Rushmoor – but there is some evidence for the ‘left vote’ splitting.