Labour claimed they were on course for a Commons majority after making major gains in local council elections across England.

The party secured the totemic Red Wall council of Stoke-on-Trent, as well as winning Plymouth and Medway, along with the Middlesbrough Mayor.

Tamworth, Brentwood, Hertsmere, North West Leicestershire and East Lindsey have meanwhile all moved from Conservative to no overall control.

Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, admitted it had been a "really terrible night” for the Conservatives in his city of Plymouth.

With about a quarter of council seats declared, the Conservatives have lost more than 200 councillors, with Labour picking up over 100 and the Liberal Democrats so far gaining about 50.

'Best result since 1997'

Labour said that based on the results so far it was confident that it would have an “equivalent vote share lead of at least 8 points which would represent our best result since 1997”. 

It said such a result at a general election would lead to a majority Labour government, “taking into account anticipated recovery in Scotland”.

Shabana Mahmood, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, said: "These results show that we are on course for a majority Labour government.”

"We have spent the whole campaign talking about Labour’s plan to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis which is the number one issue for voters. Rishi Sunak can't talk about it because the Tories crashed the economy and they don’t know how to fix it.   

"These results have been a disaster for Rishi Sunak as voters punish him for the Tories’ failure."

'Disappointing'

Greg Hands, the chairman of the Conservative Party, admitted the results had been "disappointing".

He told GB News: "We always said it would be a difficult night for the party, the independent projections were all that we were going to lose 1,000 seats"

"It’s still early days so far but if I might say, it’s not been that great a result for Labour in some areas."

Stoke-on-Trent, which had been run as a minority Tory administration since 2019, is a significant loss for the Conservatives.

The city is one of the Red Wall areas gained by the Conservatives at the last general election, with all three parliamentary constituencies currently represented by Tory MPs

Labour will meanwhile point to its gains in Plymouth and Medway as evidence that it can win parliamentary seats in the South West and South East of England respectively.

'A really terrible night'

Mr Mercer, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, said that a controversial decision by the local council to cut down trees in the city centre influenced the result.

He told the BBC: "It has been a really terrible night for us here in Plymouth.

"I think there has been a number of factors at play. I think, locally, it has been very difficult. The Conservative group here has been through a very difficult time. We have seen that reflected on the doors, in the campaign and we have seen that reflected in the results tonight but you know, we take it on the chin."

In Medway, it is the first time Labour has controlled the council since 1998.

Alan Jarrett, the former Tory leader of the council, said it was a “very disappointing night” and that the Government had to “get their act together on a number of fronts”.

'Groundbreaking'

The Lib Dems meanwhile hailed a “groundbreaking night”. The party said it believed it was on track to take control of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, where the Lib Dems have taken the seat of the Tory council leader.

Sir Ed Davey, the party’s leader, said: “We are exceeding all expectations. We have delivered a hammer blow to the Conservative Party in the Blue Wall ahead of next year's general election.

“We’re making progress all over the country - including in the heart of the Blue Wall, where we’re confident of taking control of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.”

Summarising the overnight results, Jonathan Carr-West, the chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit think-tank said: “These elections are broadly conforming to expectations.

“So far, it’s been a good night for Labour with big wins in Stoke-on-Trent and Plymouth; key targets in very different parts of the country. The Liberal Democrats will also be pleased to be holding councils like North Norfolk, Hull and Cotswold.

“The Conservatives are losing seats and councils such as Tamworth, Brentwood and North West Leicestershire moving to no overall control.”

'Not a tidal wave'

He added: “So far though, it’s a steady stream of losses not a tidal wave and is within the admittedly very pessimistic expectations they have set out.  But, there is still a long way to go.”

Yesterday’s poll was the first time that voters in England have been required to show their ID to cast their ballot.

The Electoral Commission said that while "overall, the elections were well run" the ID requirement posed a “greater challenge for some groups in society, and that some people were regrettably unable to vote today as a result".