The Tories suffer some historic losses in Thursday's local elections, while Labour admit the party's stance on Gaza was 'obviously' a factor in its failure to record more wins. Meanwhile, a Conservative minister says he has heard suggestions the London mayoral race 'might be tight'.
Voter turnout figures for the London mayoral election - one of the most closely watched - have landed this evening. Some 40.5% of the capital's electorate headed to polling stations to cast their vote, according to data from London Elects. The figure is down 1.5% on the 2021 turnout. The election result will be announced on Saturday once votes have been counted in 14 constituencies.The lower turnout has sent rumours swirling that the election could be tighter than it was thought.
Sophy Ridge wants to get the opinion of our Politics Hub panel, and former government special adviser James Starkie says he believes this vote will be a gamechanger in a sense. 'For the last four or five years, London has been considered a Labour city and impossible ,' he says.'My prediction would be, whatever the result, when we come out of it that will no longer be the case and it will be seen as at least winnable.
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