to the government, enough is enough. and locally, labour is delivering in power. good afternoon, i'm geeta guru murthy, and welcome to this bbc local election special. the first resulst have started to come in, in the mayoral race in london, and in one constitency, merton and wansworth, sadiq khan looks set to win a third term as london mayor. labour have held onto their metro mayors in liverpool and south yorkshire. this is what else we can expect over the next few hours. we are still awaiting results

in the four remaining regional mayor races including greater manchester and the west midlands where the tories will be hoping andy street can cling on. and, we are also expecting results from a the remaining handful of councils yet to declare, as well as ten police and crime commissioners. one, of course, was linked to south yorkshire. in the past half an hour, steve rotheram was declared the win er of the mayoral contest in liverpool. here he is speaking shortly after his victory was announced about what this result represents. today the people in our area have not only spoken, they have hollered at the top of their voices with two simple and clear messages to the government, enough is enough and, locally, labour is delivering in power. up and down this country, ordinary people are fed up with the chaos, mismanagementand ordinary people are fed up with the chaos, mismanagement and decline the tories have resided over. despite this, though, we are getting on with thejob this, though, we are getting on with the job locally. this this, though, we are getting on with thejob locally. this result this, though, we are getting on with the job locally. this result isn't

just a rejection of the tories, voters in our city region are not easily kidded. it is a ringing endorsement of what we are doing locally, too. and they were not hoodwinked by pie in the sky populist pledges. it is no less dishonest, you know, to promise to deliver under deliverable things locally than it is to advertise a £350 million a week for our nhs on the back of a... a side of a bus if we left the eu. and it appears that, for some, we left the eu. and it appears that, forsome, mudslinging we left the eu. and it appears that, for some, mudslinging and smear tactics are still be weapon of choice in the armoury of the deceitful and desperate. the fact is, there was only ever one party with a real plan for the city region's future rather than the back

of a fag packet generalisations paid for with blank cheques and empty promises of parliamentary legislation that would never see the light of day proposed for unfeasible schemes. i want to make this livable city region the best place to grow up, grow a family and grow a business in so i put forward a 72 page manifesto that will become the core plan of the combined authority over the next few days but this result is notjust a vote for me, it is a vote of confidence in devolution, which we all agree with. from a standing start, we are starting to see the advantages and a greater understanding of devolution�*s benefits. devolution is delivering, like 60,000 jobs, devolution�*s benefits. devolution is delivering, like 60,000jobs, 30,000 apprenticeships, 30,000 new homes, the countries publicly owned chains

and generation, the best publicly owned and run digital connectivity in the country and meaningful action to fix the broken bus market. real, tangible progressive policies that otherwise would not have happened and just on a final note, the road to downing street runs through transformative labour tra nsformative labour administrations and transformative labour administrations and local and regional government. with labour in westminster we will get to see what real devolution is like, not the limited decentralisation that we have at the moment. so the ultimate prize has to be labour mayors and labour council leaders, working in tandem with a labour government. so what comes next? well? come out and face the voters, receipts and egg. call a general election. we are

ready when you are but first we are waiting, ourwork ready when you are but first we are waiting, our work will continue unabated. now, it is the time to embrace the future, to ensure that the next chapter in our story is not written for us in westminster and whitehall but by others, locally. we are taking back our future and i promise i will never let the people in the liverpool city region down. thanks a lot. in the liverpool city region down. thanks a lot-— thanks a lot. steve rotherham s-ueakin thanks a lot. steve rotherham speaking the — thanks a lot. steve rotherham speaking the last _ thanks a lot. steve rotherham speaking the last hour - thanks a lot. steve rotherham speaking the last hour having l thanks a lot. steve rotherham i speaking the last hour having just won the liverpool mayoral race. they speak to our political correspondent. joining me now is is claire hamilton political correspondent at bbc merseyside a long—standing labour seat. what is the reaction to these numbers? weill. the reaction to these numbers? well, obviously steve _ the reaction to these numbers? well, obviously steve rotherham _ the reaction to these numbers? -ii obviously steve rotherham and his supporters are absolutely delighted. if you look at the numbers, the number of voters, it is a bit of

double take because the difference between his result and the number of votes cast for him, 183,000, the next candidate which is the conservatives, 27,000, is absolutely huge so of course there is a delight there. he has increased his vote share. 67% of the vote here so there is delight. it is a safe mayoralty for labour in liverpool but i think there is disappointment from all the parties in the low turnout that the people who did turn out, turned out in big numbers for labour and for steve rotherham but in total across the city region, 23% of people took part in this election and in st helens, which is one of the borough councils which makes up the liverpool city region, just 19% of people felt engaged enough to join in so i think there is a questionnaire that steve rotherham will be answering in the coming days about engagement with the role but obviously today he is absolutely delighted with the resounding victory he has won here in liverpool

today. victory he has won here in liverpool toda . ,., ., ., victory he has won here in liverpool toda . ., . , today. liverpool, great city, the ci of today. liverpool, great city, the city of my _ today. liverpool, great city, the city of my breath, _ today. liverpool, great city, the city of my breath, i'm _ today. liverpool, great city, the city of my breath, i'm going - today. liverpool, great city, the city of my breath, i'm going to i city of my breath, i'm going to confess to you. white such a low turnout in the region? is there an expiration that the parties can offer at the moment?- expiration that the parties can offer at the moment? from my own exnerience. — offer at the moment? from my own exnerience. i _ offer at the moment? from my own experience, i have _ offer at the moment? from my own experience, i have been _ offer at the moment? from my own experience, i have been telling - offer at the moment? from my own experience, i have been telling the | experience, i have been telling the story of the metro mayor since the role was created in 2017 and i've beenin role was created in 2017 and i've been in the job all that time i speak to people everyday about local politics and in the run—up to the selection i was still finding people who didn't know what a metro mayor is. they don't know what the jobless fall, they don't understand how it relates to them and i think there has been confusion because liverpool, up absent last year, had a city mayor as well so you had you know, plethora, idon't a city mayor as well so you had you know, plethora, i don't know what the collective noun for is but a number of mayors and civic mayors and people got confused and specific mayor in the rebuild is gone you've got the city region metro mayor. maybe that confusion is going to dissipate before the next election. i think part of it if you are not understanding where the roles and responsibilities of the local councils begin and end and where the metro mayor stepped in and does that. and there is also a sense that

it was a foregone conclusion is a people always have that well why should i bother? i know who is going to win. but i also think the campaign was... a dip of the got of the ground, you know. there were debates tinkering around the edges but i don't think the other candidates necessarily produce a massively different vision to what steve rotherham was offering put up is more that they accept that what he had already done was effectively working in some ways and they wouldn't just change working in some ways and they wouldn'tjust change it slightly working in some ways and they wouldn't just change it slightly and also buts of the promises and pledges were uncosted throughout the election campaign so again, maybe to voters, they didn't feel that much of what was being offered was a realistic prospect. not to be discussed, i think in the coming days and i do think that the turnout at the lack of engagement with the role itself is something that we will all be focusing on. ifind role itself is something that we will all be focusing on. i find that incredibly low, isn't a question mark 19% overall. that is all the parties have got to look at. obviously if there is a general election this year is expected. and what is going to be the expectation from steve rotherham if a labour

government is voted on. a massive economicjourney in the past 20 or 30 years, liverpool, hasn't it? yes. and he will — 30 years, liverpool, hasn't it? yes. and he will be _ 30 years, liverpool, hasn't it? yes. and he will be knocking _ 30 years, liverpool, hasn't it? yes. and he will be knocking on - 30 years, liverpool, hasn't it? jazz and he will be knocking on the door for money for some of his big infrastructure projects that i think one of the things we'll be making sure that the city region feels included so somewhere like st helens, we've got others as well. the other boroughs that they see tangible investment in their area, and some of the big project that steve rotherham is looking at, he says will link up those areas more railway stations and the mersey tidal barrage. this is a plan to generate energy using the tidal power of the river which would generate 1 power of the river which would generate1 million homes and really create green renewable energy and the banks of the river mersey but crucially, someone has got to pay for it. no party so far, whether it is labour, the national labour party or of course the current conservative government have committed spent and it is a huge amount of money but that is something that if labour win power in the next general election, steve

rotherham will be knocking the door down to get that commitment to take that plan forward and other infrastructure projects as well. health and sciences is a big part of the rebel growing economy. there is the rebel growing economy. there is the supercomputer in cheshire which is part of the city region. gets a bit complicated when you start to talk about the boundaries and borders but again, you know, that is a place where amazing things are being done. a lot of people in the city region don't know. it is a base they want their children and grandchildren to get a job and the government of the day will need to work with the metro mayor to bring theirjobs and bring that investment so i think those are the focus over the. transport is the biggest one for the bidding that affects all of us would have how we get from a debate whether it is the train on the bus. the buses are being brought back into public ownership in the liverpool city region as well for their jobs, liverpool city region as well for theirjobs, regeneration, will this be the hollywood of the north by the next time the next metro mayor is elected question like that is another ban steve rotherham and the liverpool city council are moving

forward as well. so a lot of promises that of the electorate feel it has been slow steps, baby steps, some of these things are things they heard 2017 and we are now in 2024 seconds yes, there is a lot to do and if labour win power at the next general election, steve rotherham were knocking on the door for plenty of money. were knocking on the door for plenty of mone . ~ . . were knocking on the door for plenty of mone . ~ ., , ., ~ were knocking on the door for plenty ofmone . ~ ., , , of money. what is the make up, the olitical of money. what is the make up, the political balance _ of money. what is the make up, the political balance of _ of money. what is the make up, the political balance of labour— of money. what is the make up, the | political balance of labour members, which part of the labour party does support come from? i'm old enough to the back that the hatton days. labour has been a sort of contentious party for many in that part of the world.— contentious party for many in that part of the world. yeah, absolutely. you know. — part of the world. yeah, absolutely. you know. i — part of the world. yeah, absolutely. you know, i often _ part of the world. yeah, absolutely. you know, i often said _ part of the world. yeah, absolutely. you know, i often said to _ part of the world. yeah, absolutely. you know, i often said to have - part of the world. yeah, absolutely. | you know, i often said to have when it comes to parliamentary stations, for example, for labour candidates in liverpool city region, the real battles happen before the actual electorate get to decide because it is so labour dominated here for double their mps apart from one, the

conservative southport, they are all labour. allow councils in the liverpool city region are run by labour. within labour, of course, there are factions and jeremy corbyn, than he was leader, had a big level of support in liverpool and he held huge rallies in the city. people possibly have seen the pictures. i think thejeremy carbon song, the chant was started here. the left—wing of the labour party is very strong but also the centrist wing is welcome if you like. and i think, in this campaign and for this election, they have actually mostly joined together. which is perhaps, someone sick mean unusual. but it is getting things done and getting local decisions made, locally. which has united people in this particular contest and steve rotherham, of course, spanned the political spectrum when it comes to the labour party. worked withjeremy spectrum when it comes to the labour party. worked with jeremy as spectrum when it comes to the labour party. worked withjeremy as his pps and he has been an mp but he is also

perfectly happy and able to get on with keir starmer and the labour mps that represent in parliament. a factious and interesting patch to be reporting on labour on merseyside but i think, for this campaign, i've certainly seen, you know, more unity then you may do at other elections. i am told i am allowed a tiny bit more time with you so that we look at the other parties because, as you said, a very big gap between labour and around 183000 and the greens and tories on around 27,000. you know, this is about people spending a lot of their own private time, their public time working really, really hard. there must be a lot of disappointment, even if, you know, the labour victory was predicted. yeah, huge disappointment from the other parties. i think when i arrived at the count today, both the greens and the lib dem said they

thought they had come second. there are quite energised because obviously he had was a battle for second place. it was only ever going to be, if you look at the numbers in the labour dominance, as we know, and as part of the world, i think there will be very disappointed, as you say, you know, candidates work very, very hard. the put themselves out there there was an independent candidate in this race is stumped up thousands of thousands of pounds money to take part in the race. as i said, there was a lack of interest and engagement for the debate. so when it came to hustings, for example, there were hardly any put there was not much of an opportunity for the candidates to get in front of the electorate apart from the coverage that the bbc did. and i think, for the other parties, if you look at the make—up of the local councils in the liverpool city region, labour dominate and then the second party, the main opposition party is quite a long way behind in most cases. so, you know, for example, there are not any conservatives in my thing, 50% of

our local councils and now, and horton, for example, cheshire, whether used aplenty, there is only one conservative so whilst the greens are enjoying being the main opposition in wirral and knowsley, for example, two of the councils, they only got the first ever councillor in sefton on thursday night so second place is the battle if you like in the liverpool city region and all of the parties, particularly the lib dems agrees, would see themselves in that role. obviously, as we've seen from the results today, it's actually a conservative come in second and the other party started fighting for third and fourth place but with only a few thousand votes in it. fantastic to talk to you. great said, to cover. thank you very much. the best, the best. i said, to cover. thank you very much. the best, the best.— the best, the best. i agree, i auree. the best, the best. i agree, i agree. thank _ the best, the best. i agree, i agree. thank you _ the best, the best. i agree, i agree. thank you so - the best, the best. i agree, i agree. thank you so much, i the best, the best. i agree, i - agree. thank you so much, claire, in liverpool, for the bbc. thank you so much, claire, in liverpool, for the bbc. let's now cross over to my colleague rajini vaidyanathan who is at the count in birmingham.

we are here at the birmingham count for the west midlands male model seat. now, counting has taken place here and in other locations. we are expecting a result in a couple of hours but what we know from both labour and conservative sources is this is going to be a really tight race. conservatives telling me earlier, genuinely too close to call. labourare earlier, genuinely too close to call. labour are saying it is neck and neck. now, the incumbent conservative mayor andy street has been really playing on his personal appeal year, been really playing on his personal appealyear, brand been really playing on his personal appeal year, brand andy, as they call it, in some ways distancing himself from the national party. he is hoping for a third term here and, throughout the campaign, labour has really been doing everything it can to try to unseat him. a lot of issues have been at play. to discuss this i'm pleased to say i am joined ljy this i'm pleased to say i am joined by our political editor chris mason. as i was excited to be in accounting hole because it is democracy in

action. . . . hole because it is democracy in action. , ., ., action. this is a cathedral of democracy- _ action. this is a cathedral of democracy. your _ action. this is a cathedral of democracy. your are - action. this is a cathedral of democracy. your are seeing | action. this is a cathedral of - democracy. your are seeing people counting _ democracy. your are seeing people counting about here in birmingham with the _ counting about here in birmingham with the state they are we are waiting — with the state they are we are waiting for accounts elsewhere around — waiting for accounts elsewhere around the region. this is the method — around the region. this is the method by uc power line with the people _ method by uc power line with the people and not with the politician so andy _ people and not with the politician so andy street, the conservative candidate, — so andy street, the conservative candidate, the incumbent mayor arrived _ candidate, the incumbent mayor arrived in — candidate, the incumbent mayor arrived in the last half hour and was asked _ arrived in the last half hour and was asked how he was feeling and said, _ was asked how he was feeling and said. he _ was asked how he was feeling and said, he will find out in a few hours — said, he will find out in a few hours. that is the power, isn't a with— hours. that is the power, isn't a with the — hours. that is the power, isn't a with the power of a regional figurehead seeking the election but by the _ figurehead seeking the election but by the power currently lies with the people _ by the power currently lies with the people as — by the power currently lies with the people. as you are saying, both labour — people. as you are saying, both labour the _ people. as you are saying, both labour the conservatives suggesting this will— labour the conservatives suggesting this will be really close and it has been _ this will be really close and it has been very. — this will be really close and it has been very, very keenly contested. so, been very, very keenly contested. so. yeah. — been very, very keenly contested. so, yeah, we are in fora so, yeah, we are in for a fascinating afternoon. we talked about this a lot on newscast. on one level when we look at results with their local council elections or me or are ones which i did draw some conclusion about what this might mean for a general election. but on the other hand, this is also unique

in the sense that it is a figurehead with the mayor and personality does matter, doesn't it? it with the mayor and personality does matter, doesn't it?— matter, doesn't it? it really matters — matter, doesn't it? it really matters. there _ matter, doesn't it? it really matters. there is _ matter, doesn't it? it really matters. there is a - matter, doesn't it? it really matters. there is a little i matter, doesn't it? it really - matters. there is a little theory that i_ matters. there is a little theory that i am — matters. there is a little theory that i am testing this weekend which is that— that i am testing this weekend which is that the _ that i am testing this weekend which is that the best way to be a mere is to be _ is that the best way to be a mere is to be a _ is that the best way to be a mere is to be a may— is that the best way to be a mere is to be a may already. the power of incumbency. if you look around england — incumbency. if you look around england so far in terms of the elections. _ england so far in terms of the elections, that so far holds quite a lot of— elections, that so far holds quite a lot of water. that can hold water in whatever— lot of water. that can hold water in whatever political office and as a politician — whatever political office and as a politician you would hope that, would — politician you would hope that, would you question hope that somehow the power— would you question hope that somehow the power of your own good deeds and work would _ the power of your own good deeds and work would count for something as something — work would count for something as something as well as your party badge — something as well as your party badge it— something as well as your party badge. it particularly does with the male model because of that idea that you are _ male model because of that idea that you are electing a figurehead, something of an ambassador, a regional— something of an ambassador, a regional player with a national platform. that is the whole point. as those — platform. that is the whole point. as those who have advocated the male model— as those who have advocated the male model and _ as those who have advocated the male model and we've seen it become more and more _ model and we've seen it become more and more fashionable, the conservatives like the idea of mayors — conservatives like the idea of mayors and so do labour and we have seen around _ mayors and so do labour and we have seen around england including in some _ seen around england including in some new— seen around england including in

some new areas. some areas of elected _ some new areas. some areas of elected mayors for the first time and there — elected mayors for the first time and there are a different breed of politician — and there are a different breed of politician and without you can see different — politician and without you can see different patterns. they are perhaps more _ different patterns. they are perhaps more resistant to national trans because — more resistant to national trans because of their capacity to be a figurehead and stand above the party badge _ figurehead and stand above the party badge. we have seen andy street is a conservative mayor here where his political _ conservative mayor here where his political affiliation pretty lightly. you will say, correctly, he is a lifelong — lightly. you will say, correctly, he is a lifelong conservative and does not shy— is a lifelong conservative and does not shy away from that but he doesn't — not shy away from that but he doesn't walk around with the biggest rosette _ doesn't walk around with the biggest rosette on _ doesn't walk around with the biggest rosette on his lapel. similarly the conservative mayor of the tees valley. — conservative mayor of the tees valley, similarly a proud conservative but where is the brand of his— conservative but where is the brand of his own _ conservative but where is the brand of his own action perhaps more prominently than his party band. youtl— prominently than his party band. you'll come to labour in the second but just you'll come to labour in the second butjust picking up what you say when people looked at the victory yesterday in tees valley, she mentioned, let's see what happens

here in the west midlands. it is a national polling pretty dire for the conservatives, what lessons can be drawn from what we saw in tees valley and what we might see here for the party as they go to the general election?— for the party as they go to the general election? for the party as they go to the aeneral election? ,_ ., ., , , general election? psychology is with a keen politics _ general election? psychology is with a keen politics as _ general election? psychology is with a keen politics as well— general election? psychology is with a keen politics as well as _ general election? psychology is with a keen politics as well as saif- a keen politics as well as saif ology. — a keen politics as well as saif ology. as— a keen politics as well as saif ology, as well as numbers. snag yesterday. — ology, as well as numbers. snag yesterday, with a sea of pretty bleak — yesterday, with a sea of pretty bleak results, the result in tees valley— bleak results, the result in tees valley was— bleak results, the result in tees valley was a place where they were smiling _ valley was a place where they were smiling conservatives toasting. of course _ smiling conservatives toasting. of course he — smiling conservatives toasting. of course he was there in the blinken of an— course he was there in the blinken of an is— course he was there in the blinken of an is like — course he was there in the blinken of an is like exactly what you would do. of an is like exactly what you would do when _ of an is like exactly what you would do. when you look at the numbers in the tees— do. when you look at the numbers in the tees valley and the swing against — the tees valley and the swing against bent, who last time around all the _ against bent, who last time around all the time before last won byi million — all the time before last won byi million miles, he had more than 70% of the _ million miles, he had more than 70% of the vote, — million miles, he had more than 70% of the vote, there was a big swing against _ of the vote, there was a big swing against him but that could happen and he _ against him but that could happen and he could still win given the margin— and he could still win given the margin of— and he could still win given the margin of his victory. if you look at the _ margin of his victory. if you look at the swing against a lot of

conservatives cease would be very vulnerable — conservatives cease would be very vulnerable if there was anything approaching that swing. the danger of over— approaching that swing. the danger of over interpretation particularly around _ of over interpretation particularly around the male role model but if you look— around the male role model but if you look you in the west midlands. there _ you look you in the west midlands. there are _ you look you in the west midlands. there are interesting battleground seats~ _ there are interesting battleground seats. and this goes here will pour over the _ seats. and this goes here will pour over the results to see what it might— over the results to see what it might say— over the results to see what it might say about the general election and the _ might say about the general election and the intriguing thing is to what extent— and the intriguing thing is to what extent is— and the intriguing thing is to what extent is the party brand and the national— extent is the party brand and the national trend significant and to what _ national trend significant and to what extent is, in particular here, brand _ what extent is, in particular here, brand andy— what extent is, in particular here, brand andy able to act as a counter to the _ brand andy able to act as a counter to the national trend which has moving — to the national trend which has moving away from the conservatives. let's moving away from the conservatives. let's move _ moving away from the conservatives. let's move on to the labour party. there has been some talk you that if they don't win here, and they've really thrown a lot at this race,

curates time are talking of a possible win here a while back, some people are saying that sir keir starmer�*s position on the ongoing conflict in gaza could have led to some muslim voters in a very diverse part of the uk, moving away from labour and actually gravitating towards an independent candidate here who has actually had his platform all about gaza. exactly. and labour— platform all about gaza. exactly. and labour are _ platform all about gaza. exactly. and labour are acknowledging i platform all about gaza. exactly. i and labour are acknowledging both regionally and nationally that keir starmer's — regionally and nationally that keir starmer's stanton gather and some of the remarks _ starmer's stanton gather and some of the remarks he made earlier on in the remarks he made earlier on in the immediate weeks after the attack on israel— the immediate weeks after the attack on israel has contributed to political— on israel has contributed to political damage for them their argument is they have no alternatives and the use this phrase country— alternatives and the use this phrase country first, party second. keir starmer's — country first, party second. keir starmer's argument is he has to behave — starmer's argument is he has to behave as — starmer's argument is he has to behave as he believes a prime minister— behave as he believes a prime minister should and he is taking the stance _ minister should and he is taking the stance he _ minister should and he is taking the stance he would as prime minister. that has— stance he would as prime minister. that has been difficult for labour in some — that has been difficult for labour in some places particularly those with a _ in some places particularly those with a significant miss muslim

population. a candidate had a particular— population. a candidate had a particular view and it is a point of difference — particular view and it is a point of difference with the labour party. the question is, speaking to labour here, _ the question is, speaking to labour here, to _ the question is, speaking to labour here, to what extent are they voters going _ here, to what extent are they voters going in_ here, to what extent are they voters going in the — here, to what extent are they voters going in the direction of an independent or people who might be motivated to vote for the independent who would have not backed _ independent who would have not backed labour otherwise. we shall see. backed labour otherwise. we shall see the _ backed labour otherwise. we shall see. the other factor here that is acknowledged by labour is that the local authority, the council hill in birmingham, not the whole region a lon- birmingham, not the whole region a long chalk— birmingham, not the whole region a long chalk by the council here in birmingham, labour—run has basically ran out— birmingham, labour—run has basically ran out of— birmingham, labour—run has basically ran out of money and has had to hike up ran out of money and has had to hike up council— ran out of money and has had to hike up council tax — ran out of money and has had to hike up council tax through the ceiling and cut— up council tax through the ceiling and cut services at the same time. surprise _ and cut services at the same time. surprise surprise, the combination of those _ surprise surprise, the combination of those two things is not popular and may— of those two things is not popular and may also have a impact on the labour— and may also have a impact on the labour vote — and may also have a impact on the labour vote in the city of not on the wider— labour vote in the city of not on the wider region. this labour vote in the city of not on the wider region.— labour vote in the city of not on the wider region. this quickly talk about that because _ the wider region. this quickly talk about that because that _ the wider region. this quickly talk about that because that is - the wider region. this quickly talk about that because that is a i the wider region. this quickly talk about that because that is a big . about that because that is a big thing. birmingham city declaring itself bankrupt. everyone blaming everyone else. the conservative

saying this is a labour—run council, look what they've done. council tax gone through the roof. it has gone up. laboursaying gone through the roof. it has gone up. labour saying the conservatives are not funding council properly and have not four years. get are not funding council properly and have not four years.— are not funding council properly and have not four years. get a mismatch between national _ have not four years. get a mismatch between national trans _ have not four years. get a mismatch between national trans and - have not four years. get a mismatch i between national trans and sentiment and local— between national trans and sentiment and local responsibility. so evidence conservative leaning councils — evidence conservative leaning councils that if they happen to be in power— councils that if they happen to be in power at the point of things got very difficult in terms of local authority— very difficult in terms of local authority funding that they got punished. incumbency being in power, you can _ punished. incumbency being in power, you can get _ punished. incumbency being in power, you can get flamed. if you are a labour-run— you can get flamed. if you are a labour—run local authority and if you can — labour—run local authority and if you can successfully blame the conservative government, does that add to— conservative government, does that add to something of a temper, we shall— add to something of a temper, we shall see — add to something of a temper, we shall see. an amount of data in birmingham, you may or may not be annoyed _ birmingham, you may or may not be annoyed at _ birmingham, you may or may not be annoyed at the state of your local authority— annoyed at the state of your local authority but does that weigh more significantly than your views of the national— significantly than your views of the national government? so they are all of the _ national government? so they are all of the kind _ national government? so they are all of the kind of contributory factors that the _

of the kind of contributory factors that the parties here have been wrestling — that the parties here have been wrestling with in trying to work out what is _ wrestling with in trying to work out what is going to happen and little wonder— what is going to happen and little wonder that they are both saying, the two _ wonder that they are both saying, the two main parties, that it is too close _ the two main parties, that it is too close to _ the two main parties, that it is too close to call — the two main parties, that it is too close to call-— close to call. always good to talk to. as close to call. always good to talk to- as the _ close to call. always good to talk to. as the counting _ close to call. always good to talk to. as the counting across - close to call. always good to talk to. as the counting across the i close to call. always good to talk i to. as the counting across the west midlands continues, both parties, as we say, both main parties believe this will be a very tight race. we will keep across banal those we got quite a lot for you in the next few hours. elsewhere, labour's oliver coppard has been re—elected for a second term as mayor of south yorkshire. here he is speaking sortly after the result was confirmed... i need to start by thanking the team he has run the selection right across south yorkshire. and if relations is hard, obviously, but running elections isn't much easier. it leaves less margin for error. to

the people verifying counting votes, the people verifying counting votes, the polling clerks and to the staff of our four councils and the mca, led ably by our combined authority returning officer, thank you. most importantly, i need to thank the people of south yorkshire. after just two years, you are asked to go to the polls to choose your mare again. but from bentley to boston castle, from door to door death, you have lend me your votes. your support and your trust once more. more than anything, with 51% of the vote, you have given me a mandate to continue the work, the work we started in earnestjust two years ago. elections at the vehicle, not the destination. and today you have offered me notjust your consent and your blessing to continue on the journey we started, to pursue the change we so desperately need across south yorkshire, whether it may be, to give every single person across barnsley, rotherham, doncasterand

barnsley, rotherham, doncaster and sheffield, barnsley, rotherham, doncasterand sheffield, the chance to stay near and go far. and tojoin millions of people across the north in calling out this government for their failure to level up our country. to do what is right for the whole of our country. cannot promise to answer every question we are faced, to immediately overcome the main problem is that we were up against in our communities, across 14 years of tory governments and 40 years industrial decline. but i can promise, indeed, ido industrial decline. but i can promise, indeed, i do promise, industrial decline. but i can promise, indeed, ido promise, never to neglect that challenge manager to take your support for granted, never to do anything than apply the values on which i was elected to the decisions i will be asked to make and your haven't always think first of those who all too often come at last. whether you voted for me or not, whether you stayed home or campaigned for another candidate, over the you are my biggest fan or

my greatest detractor, if you cull south yorkshire your home than i am proud to be your mare and i will work every day to give you their life, the opportunity and the region you deserve, do everything in my power to restore the pride, the purpose and prosperity of south yorkshire. it also they to think the other candidates in this race, politics at its best challenges our ideas and tests the proposals that would make our communities a better place. each of the candidates in this race has done something remarkable by putting themselves forward to be judged. remarkable by putting themselves forward to bejudged. and we should all be grateful notjust for their ideas and energy but for their commitment and idea of a better south yorkshire. i'd also like to thank my wonderful campaign team, particularly geraint thomas and major dramatically. they have been tireless and thoughtful in equal measure. they have known meant to encourage me, when to hold me back, they've known when to lead and went to follow. politics is a team sport.

and i simply would not be standing here today with this unique opportunity to help people across south yorkshire, if it were not for the countless hours that my friends, volunteers and labour party staff have put into this campaign. thank you very much. have put into this campaign. thank you very much-— you very much. that was the result the are you very much. that was the result they are from _ you very much. that was the result they are from south _ you very much. that was the result they are from south yorkshire i you very much. that was the result they are from south yorkshire with j they are from south yorkshire with labour winning that pretty comfortably, of course, as they did in liverpool and we are getting much more from birmingham and from london in the coming hours. labour on what it hopes is the path to general election victory. keir starmer celebrating his new east midlands mayor claire ward with his eyes set on more success today.— mayor claire ward with his eyes set on more success today. thank you so much. in on more success today. thank you so much- in some _ on more success today. thank you so much. in some places _ on more success today. thank you so much. in some places we _ on more success today. thank you so much. in some places we didn't i on more success today. thank you so much. in some places we didn't get l much. in some places we didn't get all the votes that we wanted, and of course we will fight to get those votes back but if you look at the

overarching picture and the purpose, the purpose is to serve our country, this is the last stop before the general election and we have made significant and very real progress. many of them mayoral races declaring this afternoon are expected to be comfortable for labour. in liverpool city region the party held its first post of the day. but in the west midlands the party has been challenged by an independent candidate over its stance on gaza. one factor that has led to suggestions that conservative mayor andy street may hang on. if the conservatives win in the west midlands it would further shore up rishi sunak�*s position here until a general election. while these have been a terrible set of results for the prime minister, any sense that his backbenchers are about to get rid of him has completely gone. the party's trying to insist it's all still to play for.

no one should call this one too early.