Labour has conceded defeat in the Tees Valley mayoral contest, ITV’s Harry Horton is reporting.
The party have said the expected result will be a win for Ben Houchen, not the Conservative Party, in a contest that was seen as a must-win for the prime minister.
Results are due to be announced on Friday afternoon (3/4).
Elsewhere, other key results include:
– Labour won Rushmoor in Hampshire for the first time and claimed the council in general election bellwether Redditch.
– Labour won Hartlepool council, regaining ground in an area where the party suffered a Westminster by-election disaster in 2021.
– Labour won Thurrock, one of its top targets and an area of the country that will be a key battleground with the Tories at the next general election.
– The Tories clung on by a single seat in Harlow, a council targeted by Sir Keir on the eve of polling day.
– Labour lost control in Oldham, with gains made by independents possibly as a result of Sir Keir’s stance on the war in Gaza.
– The Greens put on 12 councillors and the Liberal Democrats also gained 12, while there were also increases for independents and residents’ groups.
– Labour gained police and crime commissioners from the Conservatives in Cumbria and Avon and Somerset.
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