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<\/picture><\/span>PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe Conservatives have endured one of their worst local election results in a decade in the last big test of public opinion before a general election.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Tories lost nearly half the seats they contested, with only a handful of council and mayoral results pending.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In contrast, Labour won key councils, regional mayors and a decisive victory in the Blackpool South by-election. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The PM called the results “disappointing” but denied Labour was on track for a general election win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In a rare bright spot for the Tories, Ben Houchen was elected for a third term in Tees Valley, with a much reduced majority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Speaking at a press event in Teesside International Airport, Mr Sunak said the results showed at the general election election voters “are going to stick with us”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Sunak said Labour “knew they have to win here in order to win a general election”, but said voters know “the Conservatives are building a brighter future for Teesside and a brighter future of Britain”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n In total, the Conservatives lost 10 councils and more than 400 councillors in England.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Labour emerged as the main beneficiary, gaining 169 new councillors and making advances in areas the party claim point toward a general election victory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The party also won all three of the newly created regional mayors in the East Midlands, North East and York and North Yorkshire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Speaking at Northallerton Town Football Club in North Yorkshire, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said the result was a “historic victory” for Labour in “the heart of Tory territory”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The newly created York and North Yorkshire mayoralty includes Mr Sunak’s Richmond constituency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n He said: “We’ve had a positive campaign here and I am very, very proud to stand here as leader of the Labour Party to celebrate this historic victory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “And it is a historic victory – these are places where we would not have usually had a Labour Party success but we’ve been able to create that success and persuade people to vote for us.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The local election results so far yielded a wealth of results for the parties to pore over with around 2,600 seats contested across 107 councils, 37 police and crime commissioners, and 11 local mayors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Results will continue to come in on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Research by Sir John Curtice for the BBC estimates that, if the whole country had had an election on Thursday and behaved in a similar manner to those places that did, the outcome would be Labour on 34% and the Conservatives on 25%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, national polling puts Labour on as much as 20 points ahead of the Conservatives in general election intentions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats are now calling for Mr Sunak to call for a general election. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Box](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1447A\/production\/_133266038_le_2024_cps_strap_top-nc.png.webp)
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