Local elections 2023: Early results see Labour and Lib Dems win key battlegrounds

The prime minister said it was disappointing to lose Conservative councillors, but added his party was making progress in “key election battlegrounds” like Peterborough, Sandwell and Bassetlaw.

“I’m not detecting any massive groundswell of movement towards the Labour Party or excitement for their agenda,” he said.

Some Tories were clearly worried about the results, calling them a wake up call, with several telling the BBC’s chief political correspondent Nick Eardley that apathy – Conservative voters staying at home – was also a big problem.

Analysis of the initial results suggest Labour are making steady if not overwhelming gains, but the party says it is making good progress in the key battlegrounds necessary to win a general election.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Medway to celebrate his party’s victory in the Kent council with local activists. “You didn’t just get it over the line, you blew the doors off,” he told the crowd.

He said Labour were “on course” to win a majority at the next general election.

Speaking in Windsor, where his party won its target council of Windsor and Maidenhead from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey: “The Liberal Democrats are the big winners in this year’s local elections.

“I’m so proud that when Katy Perry and Lionel Richie enter Windsor Castle for the coronation concert on Sunday, they’ll be going into a ward that’s represented by three brand new Liberal Democrat councillors.”