Labour claims shock victory in West Midlands mayoral elections, beating Tory ... trends now
Labour has claimed a shock victory in the West Midlands mayoral elections, beating Tory Andy Street.
Richard Parker appeared to be all smiles with party members and supporters in Birmingham, where the result was set to be formally announced.
Mr Parker posed for photographs while smiling with supporters close to the podium where the winner will be announced, but then declined to smile when asked to pose for the media, saying he was 'nervously waiting' for the result.
Former West Midlands mayoral candidate and MP for Birmingham's Hodge Hill, Liam Byrne, posted a picture on social media of himself and Mr Parker smiling with their arms raised in an apparent celebration.
Both sides warned the race was 'too close to call', with the result - initially due around 3pm - finally expected to come this evening.
Partial recounts were already happening in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, but Coventry is now being re-tallied in full as the parties wrangle over every single vote.
Mr Sunak willed Mr Street to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a third term, demonstrating that the party can still win big contests.
Lord Houchen's success seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a fresh coup bid from rebels, most of whom who have now conceded the leader will not change before the general election.
But it was feared another defeat could infame anger, with the broader picture for the Conservatives relentlessly grim. The party is likely to end up losing 500 councillors in one of the worst showings for 40 years.
Former West Midlands mayoral candidate and MP for Birmingham's Hodge Hill, Liam Byrne, posted a picture on social media of himself and Mr Parker smiling with their arms raised in an apparent celebration
Mr Sunak is willing Andy Street (pictured) to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a third term this afternoon, with the outcome against Richard Parker (right) thought to be on a knife edge
Putting a brave face on grim election results, Rishi Sunak admitted that voters are 'frustrated' but argued that Keir Starmer has not sealed the deal
England Local
England Mayoral
London Assembly
London Mayoral
Police & Crime
For the first time since 1996, the Lib Dems have won more councillors than the Conservatives at a round of local elections.
Birmingham Labour MP Jess Phillips said that her party's delay in calling for a Gaza ceasefire cost them votes in the West Midlands, before the result was declared.
It comes after Independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob won third place in the Birmingham result after campaigning on Palestine.
A former frontbencher, Phillips broke ranks and quit to vote in favour of an SNP-led demand for an 'immediate ceasefire' in the Middle East last November.
'I'd be lying if I said if I said this hasn't been an issue that hurt the Labour party in this election,' she told the BBC.
'This is a political issue that the people here care about.'
The Blackpool South by-election caused particular consternation as Labour stormed the seat with a 26 point swing - and the Tories only barely scraped into second ahead of Reform.
It was not all plain sailing for Sir Keir though, with experts warning that a slump in support in areas with large Muslim populations suggested he was 'in trouble'.
Labour tied up more expected victories today, with Steve Rotheram re-elected as Liverpool City Region Mayor after securing a landslide 68 per cent of the vote.
Andy Burnham emerged victorious in Greater Manchester by 63 per cent to just 10 per cent for his Tory opponent.
Oliver Coppard was returned as as South Yorkshire Mayor with 138,611 votes, nearly three times as many as the 44,945 his Conservative rival Nick Allen received.
Earlier, Mr Sunak
