LIVE: Latest updates from across Yorkshire and beyond as local election results roll in

Labour has held Ipswich Borough Council in Suffolk.

Local elections can be some of the hardest to read into when looking ahead to a general election. In the 2014 local elections, Labour was the largest party and this propelled Ed Miliband to be the favourite to become Prime Minister in the general election a year later. However, instead David Cameron kept the keys to No10 and Miliband was forced to resign.

These elections are far more likely to be influenced by local factors than a general election, when voters usually consider who they want to elect as Prime Minister over issues with the bins. And it looks like we’ve seen some of this in South Tyneside, where my colleague Ryan Smith tells me the Labour losses are down to anger at the local administration.

However, it is possible for Labour’s losses to seep into a general election. In particular, there will be concern that the war in Gaza could damage the party in certain seats - as we’ve seen tonight in Oldham.

There appears to be a move towards smaller parties. Reform UK will continue to give the Conservatives nightmares with their vote share in Sunderland and potentially the Blackpool South by-election. The Green Party has also performed strongly, particularly in Newcastle. The real impact these elections could have is to drain the Conservative resources ahead of a general election later in the year. It’s much harder to campaign without councillors, and as it stands the Tories are going to lose a lot of them.

The Liberal Democrats have held onto Eastleigh in Hampshire.

It’s been confirmed - Labour has gained Hartlepool from no overall control. This is a big one, as the party hasn’t had a majority on the North East council since 2018.

It had a whopping 70% Leave vote in the EU referendum, which propelled a Tory victory in the 2021 by-election. That was Keir Starmer’s nadir as Labour leader.

However, three years is a long time in politics and Labour has retaken control, gaining eight seats.

Labour sources say they believe the party has won Thurrock in Essex. The council was previously controlled by the Conservatives, before moving to no overall control due to defections.

There are local factors at play, the council has gone bankrupt just like Birmingham City Council (although you won’t hear the government mention that about Thurrock). So far, Labour has gained five seats - they need another two councillors to take control.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This is exactly the kind of place we need to be winning to gain a majority in a general election. The people of Thurrock have sent the Conservatives a message that they want change.”

Labour has won the first two seats in Gateshead, in the North East, to hold the council.

Colchester in Essex remains in no overall control.

Labour has gained Thurrock Council in Essex, winning six seats with the Tories losing seven. The council has been beset by finance problems and was effectively declared bankrupt.

A Labour spokesperson said: “This is exactly the kind of place we need to be winning to gain a majority in a general election. The people of Thurrock have sent the Conservatives a message that they want change.”

The Labour Party has held Sefton in Merseyside.

Despite the Tories losing a number of councillors, Peterborough Council remains with no overall control.

The Reverend Richard Coles brother Andy Coles, who was the Conservative Cabinet Member for Finance, has lost his seat.

The Tories have lost their majority of North East Lincolnshire, which includes the town of Grimsby. With Labour winning five seats, this changes to no overall control.

The results are starting to come in rapidly now - Labour has kept control of Plymouth City Council.

The trend of dogs at polling stations has been around for a few years, but a new animal is on the electoral scene. A hedgehog has joined the count in Southport, Merseyside.

The Liberal Democrats have become the largest party in Hart, Hampshire, but this wasn’t enough to shift the council from no overall control.

Labour sources say it has taken control of Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire. The local authority includes home of the British Army in Aldershot.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This is a truly historic result. Rushmoor - the home of the British Army - has never had a majority Labour council before, and has been run by the Tories for the last 24 years.

“This result demonstrates just how much the Labour Party has changed and people in Rushmoor know that only Labour can deliver the change they want to see. A Labour gain for Rushmoor is a result Rishi Sunak cannot ignore. It’s time for a general election.”

That Labour gain has just been confirmed.

Listening to the Tory Cabinet ministers who have appeared on the news channels tonight, you would think the Labour Party was losing seat after seat. Both Mark Harper and Chris Heaton-Harris naturally questioned whether Keir Starmer’s wins would translate to a general election victory.

Wait for the mayoral contests they said, clinging on to the hope that Andy Street and Ben Houchen will get evaporate the other losses. Away from the TV cameras, tonight’s results will seriously worry Tory campaign chiefs.

As well as taking control of the Red Wall council of Hartlepool, Labour has gained Thurrock in Essex and Rushmoor in Hampshire. These are three very different areas, but all are the kind of bellwethers Labour will need to win to put Keir Starmer in No10.

Labour has held Wigan Council.