Nothing has changed

A breakdown of the local election results.

The results of the English local elections show a nation divided, with neither main party making progress since last year’s general election. In the famous words of the prime minister, “Nothing has changed.” Higher education sits in the middle, pulled in different directions in a country dominated by Brexit.

As we suggested in Thursday’s Playbook, predictions of large gains by Labour in the local elections were wide of the mark. Instead, Labour consolidated in areas where it was already strong and the Conservatives made a stronger showing than some expected as they swept up the crumbling UK Independence Party vote. However, they lost ground to the Liberal Democrats in swing areas in south London and Surrey.