the late to do all the local election results in england, one that produced some surprises. dozens of councils extorted a clear across england. plenty of results to come in. one ortwo england. plenty of results to come in. one or two important questions for the main party leaders. what everybody agrees in this brexit period is the most important time in british politics since the end of the second world war. let's look at the second world war. let's look at the headlines from the overnight results. jeremy corbyn implement this morning, the only labour council gained so far. they took the council from the conservatives. labour failed in other areas where they had hoped to have gains. they lost control of councils in derby and managed. we will be talking about that. talking of wandsworth, the premise to his being there this morning, thanking conservative workers. —— leap i minister has

been. there were some games for labour. they also hold of labour in swindon, they won basildon, peterborough, penetrating from the colla pse peterborough, penetrating from the collapse of ukip just about everywhere a cross collapse of ukip just about everywhere across ukip. lib dems have been celebrating in richmond, where they took the council from conservatives. we richmond, where they took the councilfrom conservatives. we are also looking at kingston coming up later on. ukip, a story of almost total collapse, really. they have lost all but two of the councillors they won four years ago. their campaign promised this time to hold government to account over brexit and it doesn't seem to have done it trick. this time anyway. if you are just if you arejustjoining us on bbc two and the bbc news channel, why don't i bring you up—to—date with

the numbers of councillors so far. we are the numbers of councillors so far. we a re pretty the numbers of councillors so far. we are pretty well into the process but there is a bit to come. these numbers will change quite vertically but this is where the order. 45 games in terms of seats to labour, they are in 1539th over. conservatives are 918, lib dems and 336, making a0 games. vince cable and his colleagues making a bid to buy the factors could be in researchers for them. the greens on 25, ukip, that figure speaks for itself. down from 103 from the high point in 2013. this is a different world as far as ukip is concerned. the independence and 60, a gain of ten. that is the tally. what are we looking for? a list of councils.

birmingham, looking to see how the balance works out there. kingston, this is a big test for the lib dems. some reaction from party leaders. we do have this from jeremy corbyn. a statement earlier today. here in the studio we joined by james brokenshire, the communities secretary, and the deputy leader of the labour party, tom watson. good to have you with us. we will have an update on the news. it is lovely to

have you with us. we will be testing tojo as have you with us. we will be testing to jo as well have you with us. we will be testing tojo as well about have you with us. we will be testing to jo as well about what the lessons are for the parties. in the meantime, let's catch up on the day's news. i'm rachel schofield — a summary of the news. as we've been hearing, last night's local elections across england saw labour making some gains but overall the party had a disappointing night afterfailing to win key target seats. on a visit to wandsworth this morning, theresa may celebrated with activists as the council stayed tory. the conservatives benefited from a collapse in support for ukip — but they lost trafford in greater manchester and plymouth was snatched from them by labour. our political correspondent eleanor garnier reports cheering cheers from labour in trafford, but celebrations too from the conservatives in swindon. both the main parties claim they did

0k. both the main parties claim they did ok. but no decisive shift to either labour or the tories. it was plymouth jeremy corbyn labour or the tories. it was plymouthjeremy corbyn had to travel to to celebrate his body's big win of the night. labour took the south coast cancer from the conservatives. —— council from the conservatives. obviously, i'm disappointed with any places where we lost a bit of ground. but, if you look at the overall picture, labour gained a lot of seats across the country. we gained a lot of votes in places where we've never had those votes before, and we had a very, very effective campaign across the country. a long night in the london borough of wandsworth, once a rock—solid tory council that labour thought it could win. they gained seats but the tories held on, relieved that it had been as difficult as expected.

that is the result is a really hard work of councillors, activists, supporters and the revitalised campaign machine. but we won't take anything for granted. we will continue to work hard for local people and we will build on this success people and we will build on this success for the future. cheering tea rs of joy cheering tears ofjoy in richmond—upon—thames, with the lib dems took the london borough from the tories. can ijust say dems took the london borough from the tories. can i just say well done and thank you. this money, the party leader praised his team, not a com plete leader praised his team, not a complete bounce back but certainly some ground regained. whether against labour conservative, in brexit or remain country, we are reasserting ourselves as a major national force. elsewhere, reasserting ourselves as a major nationalforce. elsewhere, it might not have been a win, but the tories losing control was another labour to celebrate in trafford, was the only conservative council in the north—west of inman. in barnet in

london, home to a largejewish community, labour admitted the anti—semitism row lost in thought and the tories took control. there is no getting away from the fact that if the anti—semitism had been dealt with a couple of years ago, when richard tobin, the people upon it would have been up to and labour council today. unhappy times for ukip, who suffered an almost total wipe—out, raising questions about whether the party can survive. a lot of people who supported ukip recognise that actually the only people who can actually deliver brexit now is the current conservative government. in a sense, that means i think that many people feel they have to give that government support. it's been positive so far for the green party, who have upped their total number of councillors. but all isn't over yet. there are still results to come in, in this biggest test of political opinion since last year's general election. the final picture won't be revealed until later this afternoon. eleanor garnier, bbc news. revealed until later this afternoon. let's turn to other news now and the

swedish academy has decided that it will not be announcing the nobel prize for literature this year. amid controversy prize for literature this year. amid c0 ntrove i’sy over prize for literature this year. amid controversy over alleged sexual misconduct. several experts who served on the swedish academy which decides on the winner resigned after allegations of sexual abuse were made against the husband of one of its members. he denies the claims. the world's first national review of a number of deaths are people with learning disabilities has found either abuse, neglect, delays learning disabilities has found eitherabuse, neglect, delays in treatment or gaps in care played a pa rt treatment or gaps in care played a part in one in eight deaths scrutinised for the review was commissioned by nhs england after the avoidable death of a young man called connor sparrowhawk. it's a major public health england was warned about the breast cancer screening warned about the breast cancer screening errors warned about the breast cancer screening errors last year for the two nhs trusts raised concerns back in march 2017 but they were told it was a local rather than a national

matter. a50,000 women were not invited to breast cancer screenings due to a computer error. an independent review has been announced by the government. nearly 2000 people have been ordered to leave their homes in hawaii following a volcanic eruption. it erupted on the big island of hawaii and a local state of emergency has been declared. it's one of the world's most active volcanoes. let's get straight back to all things election and we return to huw edwards. welcome back. thank you. what i would like to do in the next few minutes is really try to work out what's going on in the east of england. we'll go to great yarmouth and talk to our colleague because that has been a test for the conservatives and labour and what's happening with the ukip vote, how it

is split up. that'll be a very good example for us. we will also go to birmingham and talk to our collea g u es birmingham and talk to our colleagues thereabout the scene in the west midlands. let's have a view before that on how conservatives have done first of all. well, everything about expectation management, i know you talked about this overnight, the conservatives we re this overnight, the conservatives were downplaying their expectations that they had of any successes and games, and to some extent they've done is likely better than the expectations they put out there. that doesn't mean they've had a good night particular, but they certainly haven't done as badly as they thought. labour, on the other hand, who've actually done well in london as expected, but not as well as they perhaps indicated they might, so they are a victim i think of expectations. for me, overall, waking up this morning, there is a sense that neither party has made a particular breakthrough or had a particular breakthrough or had a particular disaster. their support is quite entrenched. yes, there have

been movement across the country but there is nothing i think that either of them can point to broadly speaking that would say we have punched through. labour outside of london need to ask themselves some serious questions about where they go from here if they want to look as if they are on course to get close toa if they are on course to get close to a majority. the general election isa to a majority. the general election is a long way away as we look at it now, and for the conservatives, actually, the same. this phrase, has labour reached peak corbin? have the tories reached peak theresa may? you have the exit backdrop and broadly because of ukip‘s vote collapsing, you could say the tories have made some important games, but once that a vote has gone, it has gone and they need to take big chunks out of each other, labour and the tories, to actually say we are ahead broadly andi to actually say we are ahead broadly and i don't see that yet. on that theme of ukip‘s vote collapsing, i wa nt to theme of ukip‘s vote collapsing, i want tojoin theme of ukip‘s vote collapsing, i want to join andrew sinclair in great yarmouth. nice to see you again. it's a nice sunny day. tell

us again. it's a nice sunny day. tell us about great yarmouth and what has been going on. it's all finished and the news from here is a great yarmouth officially moves from being a councillor in no overall control toa a councillor in no overall control to a council run by the conservatives and the reason the conservatives and the reason the conservatives have ta ken conservatives and the reason the conservatives have taken this council is because of the collapse of the ukip vote. you will remember ukip of the ukip vote. you will remember uupdm of the ukip vote. you will remember ukip did very well here four years ago in the seats and took the council to no overall control. but since then, the party has lost a lot of support, and last year, seven ukip councillors defected to the conservatives and today we have had the bizarre sight of seeing some of those former ukip councillors being re—elected as conservatives. the tory vote sort of split almost equally fearful for the tories took six gains from ukip for the labour took three, and that has been repeated across the east of england overnight. ukip has been very big across the whole of the east of england, where they first started,

got it early electoral support. what we have seen is the ukip vote has split probably 60—ao i would say in favour of the conservatives and the fa ct favour of the conservatives and the fact that more of it has gone to the conservatives and labour has meant the conservatives have taken some of those no overall control councils like a great yarmouth but also peterborough and basildon. like a great yarmouth but also peterborough and basildonlj like a great yarmouth but also peterborough and basildon. i also wa nt to peterborough and basildon. i also want to talk to about norwich, a different story. norwich of course, ten out of 13 declared so far. we have not got the full result but a very big lead for labour. the green presence in norwich has been an area of strength for them. let's take a look at some of the figures here because labour on 28, greens, 25, so let's look at the difference to see what the performances so far. quite a heavy loss for the greens, five seeds and labour gaining five seats, so seeds and labour gaining five seats, so not a full result but tell us what you read into that. that is

another bad result for the green party and this shows we are returning to two party politics. the green party was the main opposition and the conservatives at the moment don't have a single seat on norwich city council, so it's always been a battle between labour and the green party and labour, who have had a mixed set of results across my part of the region certainly, have made gains, not as many as they wanted to, but have done very well in norwich. norwich has been a big urban area, a big labour heartland, and it seems that labour moving to the left and jeremy corbyn is starting to get green votes and labour is becoming very strong but only in norwich. they made one game in ipswich last night, a few others in the east of england, but have not made the sort of games there were hoping for and from our point of view, the main story in the east has been the conservatives who had an incredibly good time. andrew, thank you very much indeed.

we can go to birmingham to patrick burns. it was a long night. give us a sense of the west midlands region first of all, how do you rate the performances of the conservatives?” think the conservatives, they are having much a much better time then they dared to hope. we had tom watson earlier on and bbc news talking about labour consolidating the progress they had made in last yea r‘s the progress they had made in last year's general election. they haven't consolidated in redditch, they've been defending a majority of just one seat and they lost it. the conservatives have taken that into their overall control but labour haven't consolidated in nuneaton and bedworth, another labour loss of overall control, with nine conservative gains. labour haven't consolidated in walsall, where conservatives have replaced labour as the biggest single party. in

birmingham, one senior conservative source i spoke to said they would be happy to stay pretty much where they were. they may turn out to be an element of managing expectations. what we have being so far with wa lsa ll, what we have being so far with walsall, redditch and nuneaton and bedworth, these are the towns around the fringes of the common around the edge of the west midlands. these swing seats that we always list on this great sort of midlands league table of marginal seats which decide general election is so often, and on the face of it, for the conservatives they have actually had a much better time of it there then i think they were leading us to believe beforehand. here in birmingham, we really just believe beforehand. here in birmingham, we reallyjust at the start of things. there are so many votes to be counted. to remind you, this is going to be a very different looking counsel from the one that departed before this election, in which labour held nearly twice as

many seats of all the other parties combined. this time, though, first time in living memory we have had an all—out election for the whole council but add to that new boundaries and also that the number of councillors is being significantly reduced from 120 to 101. i've been speaking to a couple of senior labour figures 101. i've been speaking to a couple of senior labourfigures in birmingham andi of senior labourfigures in birmingham and i can tell you they are very, very worried indeed. they are very, very worried indeed. they are fearing that they have failed to bring out particularly the white working class vote in traditionally strong areas in the city. there is something counterintuitive and what they are saying. they are saying their vote is performing reasonably well in the generally better off suburbs to the south of the city and that maybe you wonder whether that is where the university andy bates hospital is. traditionally tory stronghold. i wonder if we are

seeing a series of mini islingtons in places with large educational establishments. conversely, the north of the city, the exceptions of course is less well—to—do, traditionally more of a labour stronghold. it is there that labour are finding a bit of a squeeze and frankly the conservatives told me during the campaign that they delete that their findings were more encouraging than they expected. put that together and i think you have quite an interesting trend, bearing in mind at the last general election the conservatives took walsall north of labour, which is again a relatively less well—off area, with a very strong leave sentiment. on the other side, the conservatives lost warrican leamington to labour on what may be the counter effect in approach remains supporting area. one thing that makes birmingham different from the other places i mentioned is ukip has never been

quite such a phenomenon in the big cities as it was in those outer towns and outer constituencies. in that sense, there may be less that the conservatives to go at, if i can put it that way, compared to walsalls and the dudleys that we saw last night. is fascinating points to put to the panel. thank you for joining us and all the stuff overnight. cani overnight. can i show you the front page of the london evening standard? because it prompts us to put some points to tom watson who is with us. it says "oh nojeremy watson who is with us. it says "oh no jeremy corbyn". watson who is with us. it says "oh nojeremy corbyn". good morning. lela moran and james brokenshire with us as well. good to have you all with us to go over some of these results. is it fair? the analysis we heard from patrick as well, which is basically saying, yes, let's acknowledge some games but overall at this point in the cycle, this is

not, he says, the kind of performance he would expect labour to be putting out? first of alli think i should remind people outside london that the london evening standard is edited by george osborne, who probably wants to kiss and make up with the prime minister. the results show labour is doing pretty well and we could come back with a record number of councils. when you contrast it to 201a, a huge landslide for labour at the general election, for us to consolidate in london and make some gains it is pretty good. in the rest of the country, a mixed picture but we are making gains in some areas. patrick burns omitted to mention sandwell, which sits between birmingham and dudley. 26 out of 26, including three wards that fall on one of the target parliamentary seats we need to win for the general election. those labour members work very hard. we consolidated our base and made some gains and we should be proud of

the work our members click critically important areas, walsall, nuneaton and redditch. you can't be sitting there this morning... that is not consolidation. i never said that but if you look at where we we re that but if you look at where we were at the start of the general election in 2017, 25 points in the polls, we don't know what the share of the points is going to be yet because there are still results coming in but the polls told us it is neck and neck between us and the tories. i suspect these results will show it is still neck and neck. so we can be proud of the work we have donein we can be proud of the work we have done in the last year to consolidate those extra vouchers we have found through those extra vouchers we have found throutheremy those extra vouchers we have found through jeremy bowen, leadership those extra vouchers we have found throutheremy bowen, leadership in the general election. there is some relief we have managed to do that. but we know we have to do more work in the run—up to the next general election and think about some of those seats. the team is telling me labour have made a gain in kirklees. that is coming in to us. james, your

ta ke that is coming in to us. james, your take on the overnight results?” think it has been a strong result for the conservatives, as a government that has been in place for so many years. reflecting back, labour had eight years in power and lost aooo labour had eight years in power and lost 4000 feet. we are still very firmly the party of local government. i think tom is rapidly trying to reappraise some of the approaches taken before. but in london it was about, well, there wasn't a place in london we could not win to wit doing quite well, we didn't win any councils... it is just notable that labour had set out andjeremy just notable that labour had set out and jeremy corbyn launched the labourcampaign in and jeremy corbyn launched the labour campaign in westminster not winning there. barnett, another of that heat — — winning there. barnett, another of that heat —— another of their key targets. i think it has been a solid performance by the conservatives and a very bad performance by labour. nice to wake up after a general election —— an election as a lib dem and not feel sad, that is new for me. it seems to me like it is an

election about the smaller parties. the big thing i think it's wonderful is the collapse of ukip. i think it is the collapse of ukip. i think it isa is the collapse of ukip. i think it is a great thing. that is what is propping up the tory vote, let's face it. this is not necessarily an endorsement of the tories but the collapse of ukip. i imagine as a labour voter, you are probably a bit disappointed with where it has gone. i was expecting we would be getting these major leaps forward, given the windrush and everything else. i think it is a bit of a mixed bag. status quo as far as the major parties are concerned, but a good day for the lib dems. why were you shaking your head, james? you have been the big beneficiaries of ukip‘s collapse? i think been the big beneficiaries of ukip's collapse? i think the ukip unwind has benefited the labour party in some areas and asked in other areas. i was shaking my head because we have made gains from virtually every party. i think it is more complicated than trying to say the conservatives have done well because of that. actually, it's about good

local councils, councillors performing in theirareas, good campaigns and demonstrating that strong record of public services and low council tax, which... these are local elections, it is about what happens in your community. as conservatives i think we have had that strong record to put across. let's look at the pendle result, when we have been waiting to see. they hung council. let's that the figures. 2a to the tories, 15 for labour, nine for the lib dems and one to the independents. tories with one to the independents. tories with one gains. the bnp, i think that was the last... the last bnp councillor has gone. the last bnp councillor. that is one of the significant elements in that pendle result. quick thought? just pick up on a couple of things. we heard about the status quo and it is nice not to feel sad as a liberal democrat. in a way you are coming back from a very

low base. you haven't much progress beyond where you might have expected? we have made quite a lot of progress. richmond. but you would expect to take richmond. not necessarily. over the last couple of years people said that is the end of the lib dems, only 12, can't come back. i think today we have proven thatis back. i think today we have proven that is not true. we are also not saying it is over. these two are laughing. we had a high water mark when labour were laughing. we had a high water mark when labourwere in laughing. we had a high water mark when labour were in government and we are seeking to gain that again. no one is pretending this is over but i think lib dem members out there today will be going, yes! it's beena there today will be going, yes! it's been a good day. in terms of the conservatives, i'm reading here it was very close, that result in wandsworth. the tory citadel of wandsworth. the tory citadel of wandsworth where theresa may has been cheering you held it, is that really something to cheer about? it would have been a complete disaster if it went to overall control and you were only 150 votes away from

that? the point was knowing it would be really tough in london with the backdrop to all of this and to have performed strongly in london. hillingdon and barnett, where the expectation that labour would win, that they would sweep everything aside. that was a message, that was what the american london were saying and john mcdonnell also. i think we have performed well. which conservatives do you think would be willing to step against sadiq khan as london mayor? given this strong performance in london, in your mind? we will move on to the london elections in due course but it is worth reflecting on london councils across london and done a good job, with places like bexley in my own neck of the woods, a strong performance for the conservatives. labour was saying there was no place we could not win. i think that is the point. labour are we could not win. i think that is the point. labourare now we could not win. i think that is the point. labour are now trying to say, we didn't mean that, we were

saying we we ren't say, we didn't mean that, we were saying we weren't going to make those breakthroughs. that is firmly not the case. we will be hearing from the prime minister in a short while. i think theresa may is now in north london in barnett and we will have that for you in just a moment. we canjoin have that for you in just a moment. we can join anita have that for you in just a moment. we canjoin anita on have that for you in just a moment. we can join anita on the green outside parliament. thank you. a little more opinion and analysis. with me on college green are colonists from the times and guardian. is it fair to say this election essentially gives us the status quo or is it more nuanced than that? we always look for changes and you might therefore miss what is big about it, that it reinforces quite an interesting change, in terms of trade between the parties. the conservative party has increasingly moved away from graduates, moved away from cities, moved into towns. the labour party has moved on the other direction. this reinforces what we saw. we might miss something because we are concentrating on trends or

expectations but it is quite significant. do you agree? it is interesting. there's a drive to look into the tea leaves and pattern find. there are not huge seismic changes, not a huge victory for anyone. then it makes the patterns you can find infinitely interpretable for both sides and i think that is what we will see in the coming days. labour will look into it and say, this is a reflection of our success on remain, a reinforcement of our strategic ambiguity. the tories will see as it ambiguity. the tories will see as it a success ambiguity. the tories will see as it a success for ambiguity. the tories will see as it a success for leave. ambiguity. the tories will see as it a success for leave. is it the lack of more gains for labour, the consolidation tom watson was talking about is one of the big stories on this, at this particular point in the election cycle should they have done better? the problem with the way you perceive it is everyone says, oh, london is now entirely labour. you start to imbibe that as

an absolute truth. the fact is there 1700 and something possible seats in london and 1288 went to labour. so it is much more labour than it has ever been since about 1971. that is not in dispute. what is in dispute is not every single londoner is now a labour voter, which is i think is the way we started to look at it. on labour, does it givejeremy corbyn's critics within his own party something to go on? the conservatives will now be seeking a fourth term. the economy isn't doing very well. you would expect an opposition party to be doing better. i think there is a question, is jeremy corbyn drag weight and labour's vote and i think he is. is theresa may's positions they've now? much safer than one would have expected. the problem is, local elections, however you read them, they never do catastrophically

affected the incumbent government. they cause a lot of pandering but don't force change. this didn't go that way. thank you both very much. at this point, i think what we'd like to do is just take stock of where we are and remind ourselves that we are still in the position where they are quite a few results to come in. we have some mayoral contests too. if you are just joining us on bbc two and the bbc news channel, let's look the council school board because we have 1577 seats going to labour, individual feeds, 971 for the conservatives, lib dem, 352, the greens on 30 and ukip on three. a loss of 107. independence on 65. gaining ten. so

let's go to kirklees result and look at this because this is one we were waiting for. 23 out of 2a seats declared, so we're almost there in terms of the tally, there is the result. labour, 35, tories, 20, lib dem, seven, green party, three, independence, three. this is a council which has been a hung council which has been a hung council since 1999, but here we are with labour on 35, and the lib dems down one. a quick thought on kirklees before we move on. this is tight, isn't it? this is coming back to this idea that neither the tories and labour, and i agree with one of our colleagues earlier on who said they are in many ways and in so many places neck and neck, or one party is inching slightly ahead of the other, and there isn't this clear idea of one of them breaking through

which they need to do. the tories can't rely on taking votes from ukip. they will be pleased with what happened in great yarmouth as we heard earlier, and labour needs to do more in the midlands, which is what i was going to talk to tom watson about, because that's his pa rt watson about, because that's his part of the country. they need to show they are on course to win any sort of general election.” mentioned the fact the prime minister has been in barnet. thanking party workers. she hasjust been speaking so let's listen to what theresa may has said. a huge thank you to all of you for the hard work you have been putting in over the last few weeks and it's great to see how well you have been supported by my parliamentary colleagues and your local mps, matthew and theresa. but you have had a very simple message out there, which is conservative councillors deliver better services, and keep taxes low and manage people's money wisely, and manage people's money wisely, and you now have here in barnet, you

will take that message and actually delivering it for people. and being able to show the contrast between what you as the conservatives have donein what you as the conservatives have done in barnet and local labour councils, has been really important on the streets, but i know how hard it is, what hard at work it is and what hard work you have put in so huge you to all of you that we've also seen that message going out and the success across london as well, we have held wandsworth, westminster, hillingdon. we have had good results in other parts of the country. making progress in the west midlands, dudley, walsall, taken control of basildon, peterborough, yarmouth. we have to say that. the chairman's home area. so we are seeing that message and it's all about the hard work of local councillors, supporters, activists. i think we've also seen something else that play. i think people of

all faiths have rejected the bile and is at labour has gone unchallenged for too long. we've also seen people working hard bashing a compiler racism. conservatives will deliver better services and manage money wisely and keep council tax lower. i've just come from wandsworth, where i have to say of course, my political career to say of course, my political career started as a local borough council in london. it was in next—door murton, further from barnet, but i know what dedication and hard work, what commitment it takes, how much time it takes to be a local councillor and put into your local community, sol a local councillor and put into your local community, so i just a local councillor and put into your local community, so ijust wanted to say, richard, to you and our conservative councillors in barnet, if you have stood before and been a councillor before, if you are new to the job, new to the role of councillor, thank you for the

efforts you have put in, congratulations to you all, and i know you will do a great job and deliver great services for people here in barnet. thank you. applause the prime minister addressing party workers in barnet a short while ago. straight in there, drawing attention to the summit is an issue, really trying to measure what effect it could have. you would expect theresa may to raise an issue which the tories think is the achilles' heel as far as labour is concerned by the labour leader in barnet tom watson has already said thatjewish voters in barnet feel that the labour party has failed to deal with anti—semitism at national level and he says they are right. how much personal responsibility do you take asa personal responsibility do you take as a deputy leader for that failure in barnet? we all have to do and i'm sorry for those members who worked sorry for those members who worked so hard in barnet. i've not seen the results breakdown but it's very

clever jewish community centre results breakdown but it's very cleverjewish community centre is a message full they want us to deal with anti—semitism in the party faster and more responsibly. it took up faster and more responsibly. it took up too much of this election campaign. we should have nipped it in the bud earlier. the general secretary appointed lawyers, implementing the chakravarty report which will mean a speedierjudicial system. we need to do because of the right thing to and we don't want members of the jewish community to feel that they are not welcome in our party. i feel collectively responsible for that like everyone else. i will do my best to make sure we learn from that. a note from john curtis which could help the discussion. he said that there does appear to be systematic evidence labour party performed less well where they had a largejewish trinity. he mentions barry as well, by the way. —— community. so you

have acknowledged it yourself but john seems to be underlined that too. our election mastermind is the bravery and i'm sure he will look at this and draw conclusions from that. —— ian bell avery. we've got some work to do. if you're looking at local people there. they worked extremely hard and feel it's down to that particular issue. how much of a concern is that it actually costing you seats? it's a small community, the jewish committee, you seats? it's a small community, thejewish committee, nationally, but it is costing you seats if that's the conclusion you come to. the issue is bigger than a few wards ina tiny the issue is bigger than a few wards in a tiny council. it's hardly make sure people can't hold those prejudiced views. there's no room for it labour party, so we are dealing with it. jennie formby, it's her priority, and i don't want to come on the show in a year's time having to defend the fact we've not

dealt with anti—semitism quickly enoughin dealt with anti—semitism quickly enough in ourown dealt with anti—semitism quickly enough in our own party and i hope people will take me at my word that andl people will take me at my word that and i will do my best. can we bring in nicky morgan, the former cabinet minister, i think she is in leicester, actually. good afternoon, thanks forjoining us. your take on the results overnight so far, what would you say? well i would say that it's been a very steady performance for the conservatives. good news to held wandsworth. and westminster and other councils and make gains after eight years in government but i think the story you just been discussing about the fact that the labour party did make anything like the games they had expected. this various reason for that which i think tom watson has rightly acknowledged. the leadership of the labour party ‘s got a good knowledge of the problems they have got and it's nowhere where they would want to bf they stand any chance of being in power eventually —— gains. lots

of conservative councils have worked incredibly hard. as the pie minister just said in a clip. they deserved the victory as they have got. it's not uniform, for example, trafford for the conservatives was not great and because it's such a hugely symbolic authority, that is something which will prompt you to ask if you question surely about the direction the party has been taking. well, i think it's right, it's obviously mixed across the country. overall, a lot of people are saying it's a status quo election result, andi it's a status quo election result, and i think that's right and obviously the conservative party acknowledges that in metropolitan areas, in the north of england, there's always more for us to do, but places like the midlands where i'm sitting at the moment although we didn't have elections in leicestershi re we didn't have elections in leicestershire last night, places like nuneaton and peterborough, the results have been extremely good for the conservative party, so we

obviously do have a message which is resonating but also its about getting all that out there and i think people did vote on the basis of local services, how much it's costing them and that clearly as i say has proven a success on doorsteps the but of course, there's a lwa ys doorsteps the but of course, there's always more to do. and interesting point, focusing on local services, and that's right, butjohn curtis said this overnight, there's no getting away from the fact you are performing strongly as a party in those areas that voted leave in—out referendum. this is a clear link and i'm just wondering, referendum. this is a clear link and i'mjust wondering, given referendum. this is a clear link and i'm just wondering, given your perspective on the whole brexit business, whether you are co mforta ble business, whether you are comfortable with that very clear association being reflected in this election? well, i think it's inevitable in a way because it is the conservative party that is delivering on the referendum result. there's many people who perhaps supported other parties who are now thinking actually what we wanted was

to change our relationship com pletely to change our relationship completely with the eu and that's what the conservative party is delivering on, and, yes, although i'm very much for making sure we have a good ongoing relationship with the eu, it's also about leaving the european union and that's affected, but the point is about how we do it and what the deal is we eventually get. and i think my experience of the last few months, for those voters for whom brexit was an issue, obviously they thought about that and how they voted, but for many people in a way like last year, they factor that in early on in the campaign and then they were looking to see what the conservative candidates were saying about local services and i think the prime minister's strong leadership over russia and syria also played a big pa rt russia and syria also played a big part on the doorsteps. and in certain areas, clearly, the labour party ‘s problems with anti—semitism, long—term labour voters anti—semitism, long—term labour vote rs just anti—semitism, long—term labour voters just said they couldn't possibly support the labour party this time and that was also quite a

revelation for us to hear. very good to talk to. thank you forjoining us today. the conservative vote, 13% increase in those areas where there are strong leave patterns of voting, so 13% of those areas, underlining the trend we were talking about. john curtis telling us conservative support is relatively flat in those councils which are strongly remain. does that reflect the fact we are nearly two years after the referendum, you and your colleagues are still not in a position where you can agree even the kind of customs relationship or trade racial ship we want post—brexit. it is a position which alarms people and u nsettles position which alarms people and unsettles people and that, you could argue, is also reflected in those results where people don't like the way the process has unfolded. the prime minister is obviously

negotiating the best outcome for the uk as we leave the european union. nicky morgan has just uk as we leave the european union. nicky morgan hasjust been setting that out. i think it is right that we clearly ensure that, as we look at the different options for the customs arrangements, we structure that effectively, we reflect carefully and then presented to the european union. i think there has beena european union. i think there has been a lot of important work taking place and it's also important we continue to ensure that we reflect that we make the right moves in terms of our negotiation with the european union. i remain firmly confident we will do that and we will chart out this new arrangement with the european union, where we can still do trade eels internationally, but have frictionless trade with our european partners so it is those roles —— trade deals. in my old role in northern ireland, it's important we don't have a border re—emerging. it's ensuring we engage effectively

with the european partners, they engage themselves following through on what was said before, on the approach to how we would deal with the negotiations on northern ireland andl the negotiations on northern ireland and i still think that firmly remains in view. there's no agreement even within the cabinet on which way that should be because the debate which is going on, everyone was briefing left right and centre on that and clearly there is no debate there, so i'm wondering what people can make of the fact, if you can't agree within government on what the options are, even if those options by the way are acceptable or not to the eu, it is a completely different issue, people have a right to be alarmed that very late on in this process, and we are still not a position of clarity on an important pa rt position of clarity on an important part of it. we always said this would be the toughest part of the negotiations on the most challenging issues. ithink it is right we are ensuring we get the right approach, that we do listen carefully and look at the evidence. there is clarity, we are leaving the customs union and single

market. the prime minister has set out in her speech... that is why you have in negotiation with the european union. you at least acknowledge the cabinet can't agree at this stage within its own membership of the best way ahead? what we have is we still have the two elements, the two proposals on the table that are still being worked through. there is further analysis being done in relation to be most effective options. so it is constrained, it is part of that debate to make sure we are putting forward the most effective approach, forward the most effective approach, for the best interests of our country, because that is what this is about. it is about our future outside the european union, getting it right and making sure we have a bright and positive future i know we can achieve. is it an advantage or disadvantage for theresa may to have to depend on the dup in such a high—stakes to depend on the dup in such a high—sta kes process, advantage to depend on the dup in such a high—stakes process, advantage or disadvantage? we are very, very

clear and dealing with the national interest, ensuring that we don't have a border east, west or north south, in relation to northern ireland. i think the prime minister has shown she is prepared to be tough, she is prepared to put that national interests first. sol tough, she is prepared to put that national interests first. so i don't see that as a conflict. she has shown leadership through this process and will do so to get the right outcome. are you an advocate of the customs partnership the prime minister thinks is a good option?” think it is an option that does continue to need to be advanced, alongside the alternative. would you... i've been involved in some of the discussions in the past when i was the discussions in the past when i was looking at some of these things before christmas. i think there are both of these options can be delivered. i believe it is right we are looking at what is going to be the most effective one from that. you must have a view on which when you think, and given your background in northern ireland this is critical, you must have a view on

which would be the best, you talk about the national interest. which would be the best in the national interest, the two options on the table? i want to see the outcomes from the discussions and analysis which is ongoing, because ultimately it's about having two workable solutions. that's what the discussions, carefuland solutions. that's what the discussions, careful and considered discussions, careful and considered discussions taking place have been about. i don't think there should be an apology for that because it is about getting this right. i think there is a case, and i have looked at this in the past, both of these, i think they are both deliverable. it's about the outcome of no hard border in northern ireland and frictionless trade, which covers a range of issues. it's notjust about the customs union but regulation, processes and procedures with business and the level of detail the government has been going in on and it is right we should have done so. does it bother you all the word from the eu so far on these two options is that neither is likely to be

accepted? debating is that neither is likely to be accepted ? debating this is that neither is likely to be accepted? debating this with great energy and at the end of the day, neither of these looks like it is a runner as far as the eu is concerned? i don't accept that. this isa concerned? i don't accept that. this is a negotiation where needless to say the eu will put forward a firm view at various points and is about our focus on the outcomes, actually going through this in the way we have and negotiating firmly with the eu. i believe solutions are there. it is about that engagement from the eu as well. actually, the responsibilities and duties they hold on what was agreed before christmas and dealing with the issues and northern ireland, dealing with that through the trading arrangements, or special circumstances or finally the issue around alignment and those sorts of factors as well. people seem to be jumping firmly to option three before looking at option one and two. there is a responsibility on all sides we do it properly. tom? i like to be a little kind to james.

there is no electoral read across that we have seen yet. they have not really formed a view in this election on the chaos that is falling around theresa may, because she cannot unite her cabinet. it seems to me the big issue for them, it feels like the cornwalls. she is getting to the point where she is going to have to make the choice, does she stand up to her libertarian right wing or does she stick up for the business community, that has traditionally supported the conservative party who are saying, we need a customs union, we need to trade in this single market as friction free as possible? and if they can't agree on the cabinet committee, they won't convince their voters that the next general election that they are competent. we we re election that they are competent. we were talking about areas of importance, redditch. seven out of ten declared. this was a very small majority for labour last time. 15

needed for a majority. look what is happening in redditch so far, 1a to the tories, gaming two. labour and ukip having lost a seat. that is the kind of result that will tell people, hang on, what's going on? tom watson, what is your reaction to that? this is the area, as i have been saying to you through this programme, what is going on with labour in the midlands? if you cannot gain or hold some of the labour strongholds and hold onto them, you're not going to make any progress towards a election majority? in those west yorkshire seat and midlands seat, it is a key westminster parliamentary battle ground. in redditch, those elections are always closely fought. the westminster seat has changed hands at general elections on the labour tory vote, labour has done better some years, labour has lost one there, i don't know the specific circumstances. looking at it now... that is bad news for labour, in terms of being an indicator. i'm not

saying you can extrapolate what would happen in any sort of general election, but as you have said, these are bellwether areas. you can look at various parts of the country, nuneaton or swindon all redditch, and if labour isn't making real progress is fair, do you really think that means you could win an election? those are historic key seats for labour. particularly in nuneaton, redditch and nunnington there is demographic changes and some of those areas are changing. so it might be that the political parties shift the electoral battle ground for the westminster elections. but the point you are making, are we doing well enough to wina general making, are we doing well enough to win a general election? we know we need to do more. we have consolidated power base. look where we we re a consolidated power base. look where we were a year ago, only one in four people saying they would vote labour and we came out of that general election with around ao% of the vote. we didn't know whether we were

going to do that this type and it is looking like we probably have. just nationally, if you're looking at the problems the conservatives are having, they have had weeks of fiasco over windrush, for example. labour has been going on ad nauseam about austerity. if these things are not cutting through now, when are they going cut through?“ not cutting through now, when are they going cut through? if you said to me last year, come on this tv show when you are 15 points higher in the polls, i would say, i'll take it. and i am taking about we need to do more. tests for the lib dems, layla, i will bring you in on a second. south lakeland, tim farron's area where he almost lost a seat at the election. phil is there for us. big boundary to danger —— changes, what is your sense of what is going on there? it seems there is a bit of added confidence here, renewed confidence from the liberal democrats. going into this election, as you mentioned, tim farron only narrowly holding an in this borough

last year at the general election. only winning at the referendum quite narrowly. they were expecting to ta ke narrowly. they were expecting to take a bit of a kicking, but that seems not to have been a potentially to have been the case. we have not had any results here. we have seen tim farron wandering around on the floor below me. he was here from nine o'clock this morning. compare it to last year when his seat was up for election and he only turned up at the very last minute. don't know how much we should read into that but he is here. you also mentioned some major boundary changes, the entire map of this area has been redrawn, so that it makes comparisons very difficult. but it also means there is an added layer of uncertainty for the lib dems. they're not popping the champagne corks just yet because in many places people could vote for two or three councillors. if they had supported the lib dems for a long time they might vote for a green. so

another layer of uncertainty in a flagship constituency for the liberal democrats. thank you. some thoughts on that, i think he is less tired than he was last year. laughter this is another example... we are sort of hoping that we should be able to hold onto this one.” sort of hoping that we should be able to hold onto this one. i am saying it cautiously because we may do better than that. other parts of the country have 3—member wards so we will have to wait. cautiously optimistic about places like kingston and making them gains there. we held the mayoral position in watford. that wasn't an easy one. south cambridge?” in watford. that wasn't an easy one. south cambridge? i haven't had too much about that one. but one of the areas i know overnight, the twitter feeds and whatsapp root saying it is looking 0k actually. i'm using my language, waiting to see. there is a lot of uncertainty still. the general mood in the party of the

night was pretty good, i have to say. we will have to wait and see. why are you laughing, tom? say. we will have to wait and see. why are you laughing, tom7m say. we will have to wait and see. why are you laughing, tom? it would be cruel, i was trying not to but it seems to me the lib dems... they have done all right in some areas but are not really breaking through. i don't really know what they stand for. where have we not break through? we can only fight in the places that are up. in places like sunderland, where we went from four to over 60% of the vote. in places like liverpool and hull, we are taking seats for labour and the tories everywhere. i don't want a row with you about it but it seems you haven't broken through and you are not particularly relevant. lets see if there's any sign of a breakthrough in milton keynes. tom, a quick update on the contest in milton keynes? yes, here they are still declaring results. we are about half of the way through. they declaring a

conservative target seats, which has been held by labour. i can tell you there is one seat here which has changed hands so far. it might not sound like much, but this council going into this election had 22 seats from labour, 22 for the conservatives, 13 for the lib dems. the conservatives have so far gained one seat so far. going into this election it was run by labour with the support of the liberal democrats. that, if conservative send—up of the biggest party, that could pose question over who runs this council. they have gained one and are hopeful they could finish this election, the conservatives, with two or three more seats than the labour party and there are a couple of recounts going on as we speak. we will hear from those later. away from milton keynes, there is another contest in south cambridgeshire, which is going on as we speak. there, all of the

councillors are out. we are hearing from people on the ground, both liberal democrats and conservative sources that the liberal democrats are hopeful that they could take that council. that has been a conservative council for several yea rs, conservative council for several years, it was a strong remain area. the council where heidi alan is the local mp, so we could well see a big upset happening in south cambridge. very interesting, thank you. a quick thought before we end this segment of the coverage, that would be a turn up? it certainly would. we were just listening to layla saying they are coming back, the lib dems. we spoke earlier it is from a low base but she's right, coming back in areas you would expect them to. tom watson is right, they are not making a big breakthrough but you wouldn't expect that from such a low base. that would make them very happy. before i came in i met a smiling ed davey who was confident about

kingston, let's if it is realised. quickly on dan jarvis, kingston, let's if it is realised. quickly on danjarvis, not won it on first preference. we will talk about that later on. thank you very much. james, tom and layla, thank you very much for coming in and the questions. jo coburn and i will be back with another guest at two o'clock but now it is time for bbc news at one. in the meantime from westminster, thank you for watching and goodbye. a disappointing night for labour in the local elections in england, as the party makes limited gains, and doesn't win some of its key councils. jeremy corbyn's party took plymouth from the conservatives but failed to win any of its target councils in london, and lost nuneaton and bedworth. obviously, i'm disappointed with any places where we lost a bit of ground. but if you look at the overall picture, labour gained a lot of seats across the whole country, we gained a lot of votes in places where we never had those votes before. the conservatives celebrate in london, as the party hold on to theirflagship boroughs, but lose trafford,

their only council in greater manchester. theresa may says overall it was a good night. we've made progress in places like dudley and walsall, we've taken control of basildon and peterborough. and that's all the result of the really hard work of