Labour Keeps Most of Its Holdings, with Some Notable Exceptions

Jeremy Corbyn’s labour party has squeezed by and avoided the defeat the media had predicted in Thursday’s local elections, holding on to key councils in England. In Scotland it was a different story, though, as Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP has won a third term in the elections for the Scottish Parliament. In fact, Labour is expected to drop to third place in the Scottish parliament, behind the Tories.

Rightwing UKIP, which suffered a defeat in the last national elections, gained council seats, came second in two by-elections and is expected to gain its first foothold in the Welsh Assembly.

The London Mayoral result will be declared late in the day Friday, as will the results of 40 English local council votes.