elections in these particular circumstances, the loss the conservatives suffered is quite heavy. it isjust conservatives suffered is quite heavy. it is just that we thought labour would be who would inflict the damage rather than the liberal democrats, so for labour, while it has recovered from the very poor set of local election results last year, we are still looking at the opposition, as tim and sonia suggested, that has enough lot of work to do persuading the public to regard it as an effective alternative government as perhaps sometimes a party that is a reasonable opposition to the current administration. 5ir reasonable opposition to the current administration.— administration. sirjohn curtice, thank ou administration. sirjohn curtice, thank you very _ administration. sirjohn curtice, thank you very much _ administration. sirjohn curtice, thank you very much indeed, i administration. sirjohn curtice, | thank you very much indeed, for administration. sirjohn curtice, i thank you very much indeed, for a concluding thought at this nearly 2a hour broadcast of elections in england, scotland and wales, and the assembly elections in northern ireland. i would like to thank the team involved in a big production like this, because it is an enormous team, so to all of those behind the

scenes, an army of people, can i think them all on behalf of bbc news? and to you for watching. —— think them all. there is more debate on the bbc news channel and on bbc news online, and of course the bbc news online, and of course the bbc news at ten is coming up in 30 minutes' time, but from all of us, thanks for watching and goodbye. hello, you're watching bbc news, i'm shaun ley

borisjohnson has described his party's performance in england's local elections as a "tough night". the conservatives have lost more than 330 council seats. labour took three long—time conservative councils in london, but has made limited progress elsewhere. the liberal democrats made significant gains. more from other parties in a moment — but first, let's hear more from the prime minister when he spoke to reporters earlier today from his consituency in west london. this has been a tough night for conservatives in some parts of the country, and other parts of the country, we are actually moving forward. so for midterm, it's quite interesting that it's a mixed set of results. and i think that the lesson that i take is that, you know, and you rightly quote the view from the dorset — but the lesson is, we've got to get on with the stuff that matters to people, we've got to keep delivering on our agenda. england results are still coming in, but labour have taken three symbolic london councils from the conservatives. the labour leader, keir starmer, congratulated party members in barnet, one of those three. he said the results were evidence

the party had changed. this is a massive turning point for the labour party — from the depths of 2019, we are back on track now for the general election, showing the change we've done, the hard change to be done over the last two years — what a difference it has made. and in cumberland, you know, very important win last night in key constituencies for the next general election, same in southampton. many more results to come today. but ijust want to thank our brilliant team... applause the snp has finished as the biggest party in scotland's elections. labour beat the conservatives into second place for the first time in a scottish election in six years. well, i'm thrilled at the snp's result. i mean, it is a quite incredible outcome. we have not only won the election, i think our eighth consecutive election victory since i've been leader of the snp, but we've won overwhelmingly. i think we're going to end up about 12—13 percentage points ahead of our nearest rival.

we've increased our share of the vote. we've increased the number of councillors that we've won, and i think we're going to be the largest party in more councils than was the case going into the election. now, all of that would be a fantastic result for any party in any circumstances. but the snp's been in government in scotland now for 15 years and this result says that people across scotland — well, they absolutely recognise that the snp is not perfect. no party, no government is. they trust the snp and have faith in the snp to lead the country forward at national and crucially local level. nicola sturgeon speaking earlier. the liberal democrats have gained more than 190 council seats in england so far. speaking in taunton — where the lib dems have taken control of somerset county council — party leader sir ed davey voiced his delight to supporters. what began as a tremor in chesham and amersham became an earthquake in north shropshire. and with our victories in furness

and here in somerset... cheering it has now become a political shock wave that could bring down this appalling conservative government. it's the movement of millions of people, and they saying they've had enough. they've had enough of rising energy bills and food bills, and rising unfair tory taxes. they've had enough of filthy sewage being allowed to be pumped into our rivers and lakes. they've had enough of ambulance delays and not being able to get a gp appointment because there are too few doctors. they've had enough of being taken for granted. and they've had enough of this lawbreaking, lying prime minister. cheering the green party has made progress, gaining 60 seats in england. its deputy leader, amelia womack, said her party was benefitting from voters questioning their traditional allegiances. we are proving that we are

building ourfoundations. we are chipping away at the conservative vote there, we are, as i said, taking votes from labour and conservatives — because people are looking for that integrity and politics that they see that they can get with the green party. —— integrity in politics. so yes, we are building in conservative areas like suffolk, and making sure that we are showing what green representation can do there. joining me now is keiran pedley, director of politics at market research and consulting firm, ipsos. thanks very much for being with us. with the caveat that this isn't entirely a national election because some areas of england didn't vote, although all of scotland and wales did vote, what can we deduce from the results we've seen so far? goad the results we've seen so far? good evenina. i the results we've seen so far? good evening. ithink— the results we've seen so far? good evening. i think it's very _ the results we've seen so far? (emf. evening. i think it's very important to stress that point that these are

local elections. turnout is usually much, much lower and local elections, we've pointed out that not everywhere voted, and polling shows that people do take into account local issues like bins and potholes, as well as national issues when they vote in the collective. that said, these are real votes, and we can learn a bit from them. i think what we are seeing now as we start to approach the time when all the votes are tallied is that it's a pretty bad night for the conservatives. across great britain as a whole, we are seeing the conservatives lost almost 500 council seats, and the projected national share of the votes... in a mixture of 2017—18 that we are talking about. a really challenging night for the conservatives, which reflects some of the problems we've had with the cost of living and partygate, things in the recent past. at the same time, we are looking for clues about what might be happening in the future, labour

seem to be standing still somewhat in terms of the national vote share. so it's a mixed picture.— so it's a mixed picture. pro'ected national share fl so it's a mixed picture. pro'ected national share of i so it's a mixed picture. pro'ected national share of the fi so it's a mixed picture. pro'ected national share of the vote, h so it's a mixed picture. projected national share of the vote, which | so it's a mixed picture. projected l national share of the vote, which is the nearest equivalent people can make if there were a general election tomorrow and these results were replicated, it puts labour in first place. but is it far enough to head to start to feel confident about a general election that could be two and a half years away? there's two points to make there. if you take the projected national vote share from yesterday at face value, there are a range of potential possibilities, ranging from a reduced conservative majority to a hung parliament where it labour might be the largest party. at the same time, these local elections — i think how every party seems to adapt to the challenges, be that the cost

of living or the russian invasion of ukraine, and other issues will be what dictates and happens next. there's no set trajectory from where we are this is where we are — that makes a general election very unpredictable for the reasons i've given. it certainly labour can feel they'll be competitive in the next general election.— general election. let's talk a bit about the rest _ general election. let's talk a bit about the rest of _ general election. let's talk a bit about the rest of the _ general election. let's talk a bit about the rest of the uk. - general election. let's talk a bit about the rest of the uk. we've| about the rest of the uk. we've dealt with the english results because we pretty much have all those. we have all the results from scotland where their voting system meant none of the councils were coming into this election held by any individual party. what's the picture looking like now? the first thin that picture looking like now? the first thing that striking _ picture looking like now? the first thing that striking is _ picture looking like now? the first thing that striking is how- picture looking like now? the first thing that striking is how resilient| thing that striking is how resilient the snp is in scotland. i think they'll be very pleased with their performance yesterday. the other thing to look at is the balance in the relationship between the conservatives and labour, who are now in second place in scotland.

there's potential ramifications for future westminster election, painting a picture between the labour and conservatives. but it also has ramifications for the snp's continued strength in scotland, and there's a debate there about independence and a future referendum. so it's steady as she goes at some extent for the snp. the conservatives had a good run in wales, particularly under david cameron. how are things looking now? i think what we are starting to see is the result of the swing away from labour from the last one in 2017. this is a place where every seat in the council, i think it was around a swing of six seats in the last general election towards the conservative. if this trend were to continue, it raises the prospect again of labour gaining seats for the conservatives next time, of

course we'll have to wait and see how things play out.— course we'll have to wait and see how things play out. thank you very much. well, in northern ireland, sinn fein has won the most first—preference votes. the democratic unionists came second. but there's still more counting to be done. let's get the latest from annita mcveigh in belfast. you still got a night ahead of you? we are almost 14 hours in, not that we are counting, but actually there is still a very long way to go. by my calculations, last time i looked a few seconds ago, 3a of the 19 seats have been declared —— 90 seats. we are a third into that total number of ml a's, members of the legislative assembly. those who must be elected in this vote. quite a way to go, let me give you a tally. sinn fein, the nationalist party that wants to see a united ireland, 16, the democratic unionist party against the protocol of

northern ireland that governs post—brexit trading agreements, at six. the ulster unionist party on three, sd lp on one, and one independent elected so far. joining me now is colin mcgrath from the sd lp who stands in the constituency of south down to get a little bit more insight into what's going on. i was explaining earlier in the data view is that the system of voting here is a form of proportional representation called the single transferable vote. explain to us where your count is at and how that works? , ., , ., , ., works? the single transferable vote is never as simple _ works? the single transferable vote is never as simple -- _ works? the single transferable vote is never as simple -- a _ works? the single transferable vote is never as simple -- a simple - is never as simple —— a simple process— is never as simple —— a simple process to _ is never as simple —— a simple process to explain, it's taken me many years— process to explain, it's taken me many years to work out how it actually — many years to work out how it actually takes place. but essentially, everybody gets their first preference votes. if you reach a quota, _ first preference votes. if you reach a quota. you — first preference votes. if you reach a quota, you get elected, and if you have any left over its distributed around _ have any left over its distributed around the other numbers are on the ballot _ around the other numbers are on the ballot paper. you just keep going

through— ballot paper. you just keep going through that process of eliminating people _ through that process of eliminating people until people reach that quota — people until people reach that quota. that can take some time, we are 14 _ quota. that can take some time, we are 14 hours — quota. that can take some time, we are 14 hours at this stage. it looks like well— are 14 hours at this stage. it looks like we'll be — are 14 hours at this stage. it looks like we'll be finished in a couple of hours because we won't have cut through— of hours because we won't have cut through all— of hours because we won't have cut through all those stages, and we will have — through all those stages, and we will have to come back tomorrow. so i will have to come back tomorrow. so iwas _ will have to come back tomorrow. so iwas hoping — will have to come back tomorrow. so i was hoping with my own account, which _ i was hoping with my own account, which is _ i was hoping with my own account, which is currently at its third stage. — which is currently at its third stage, that i might get past the quota _ stage, that i might get past the quota line. but that might be tomorrow before i come back and get that. but— tomorrow before i come back and get that. �* , ., �* tomorrow before i come back and get that. �* �* ., tomorrow before i come back and get that. ., , that. but you're hopeful of being elected? l _ that. but you're hopeful of being elected? i am, _ that. but you're hopeful of being elected? i am, indeed. - that. but you're hopeful of being elected? i am, indeed. so- that. but you're hopeful of being | elected? i am, indeed. so overall for the elected? i am, indeed. so overall forthe party. _ elected? i am, indeed. so overall for the party. one _ elected? i am, indeed. so overall for the party, one seat _ elected? i am, indeed. so overall for the party, one seat declared l elected? i am, indeed. so overall. for the party, one seat declared for the sdlp so far. are you disappointed at this stage to have just one seat?— disappointed at this stage to have just one seat? yes, i'd love to have loads of seats. but _ just one seat? yes, i'd love to have loads of seats. but whenever - just one seat? yes, i'd love to have| loads of seats. but whenever people -et loads of seats. but whenever people get elected, there is obvious the five seats— get elected, there is obvious the five seats for every constituency, and it's _ five seats for every constituency, and it's when people reach that quota _ and it's when people reach that quota that they get elected. quite

often _ quota that they get elected. quite often the — quota that they get elected. quite often the middle ground smaller parties _ often the middle ground smaller parties tend to have to wait until later _ parties tend to have to wait until later so — parties tend to have to wait until later so i — parties tend to have to wait until later. so i would say that later this evening, certainly into the rnorrow, — this evening, certainly into the morrow, that seat count for us will rise substantially.— rise substantially. your party leader was — rise substantially. your party leader was interviewed - rise substantially. your partyj leader was interviewed much rise substantially. your party - leader was interviewed much later to make earlier in the day, and he said perhaps the sdlp was suffering because they nationalist voters who want to see a nationalist first minister were choosing to give their first to third preference votes to sinn fein, ratherthan first to third preference votes to sinn fein, rather than the sdlp. do you think that's a factor? absolutely, i think many in the nationalist community want to see a nationalist _ nationalist community want to see a nationalist first minister but not least _ nationalist first minister but not least due — nationalist first minister but not least due to the way the deal if you have treated the position, or they've — have treated the position, or they've made many in the nationalist community— they've made many in the nationalist community feel lesser and they've used their— community feel lesser and they've used their power within that position— used their power within that position and tried to use it as leveraqe _ position and tried to use it as leverage in various negotiations,

not least — leverage in various negotiations, not least the fact that they walked out of _ not least the fact that they walked out of government and said that because — out of government and said that because of the protocol, which is something — because of the protocol, which is something that is negotiated between london _ something that is negotiated between london and brussels, they decided they wanted to walk out of government here in belfast. so there's— government here in belfast. so there's been lots of abuse of that position— there's been lots of abuse of that position and it's become a prize that nationalists want to see. so i've that nationalists want to see. so we no— that nationalists want to see. so i've no doubt that a number of nationalist voters will have offered loads _ nationalist voters will have offered loads of— nationalist voters will have offered loads of support to sinn fein to see if they— loads of support to sinn fein to see if they can — loads of support to sinn fein to see if they can get that position. and sinn fein walk _ if they can get that position. and sinn fein walk out _ if they can get that position. fific sinn fein walk out of the if they can get that position. 2.1c sinn fein walk out of the previous assembly, didn't they, back in 2017. so a lot of people would look at politics here and say there's quite a lot of dysfunction, and so many people, i'm sure you've heard this and all the politicians i've spoken to say they've heard on the doorsteps — people want politicians back at stormont making decisions on the cost of living, how to tackle that crisis, on education, health care, and so on. how do you break this logjam?—

this logjam? that's a really difficult question. - this logjam? that's a really difficult question. we - this logjam? that's a reallyj difficult question. we could this logjam? that's a really i difficult question. we could go this logjam? that's a really - difficult question. we could go back into stormont on monday, we will have _ into stormont on monday, we will have a _ into stormont on monday, we will have a sinn— into stormont on monday, we will have a sinn fein first minister, a dup_ have a sinn fein first minister, a dup deputy first minister — but nothing — dup deputy first minister — but nothing changes, the issue still remain — nothing changes, the issue still remain. those issues won't be resolved — remain. those issues won't be resolved without change in designation of the rules. what we need _ designation of the rules. what we need to— designation of the rules. what we need to do— designation of the rules. what we need to do is form some form of stable _ need to do is form some form of stable executive that addresses those _ stable executive that addresses those issues. during the election, my party— those issues. during the election, my party went very strong on the day-to-day — my party went very strong on the day—to—day issues in terms of the cost of— day—to—day issues in terms of the cost of living and the crises we have _ cost of living and the crises we have with _ cost of living and the crises we have with our health service, and dealing _ have with our health service, and dealing with issues of infrastructure and education. but obviously— infrastructure and education. but obviously people wanted to see that first minister from a nationalist background, and that's what the motivation was. but we still have all those — motivation was. but we still have all those problems next week and no guarantee _ all those problems next week and no guarantee that they will actually be an executive to deal with them. colin— an executive to deal with them. colin mcgrath, thanks very much from the sdlp. as khan was suggesting earlier. it the sdlp. as khan was suggesting earlier. ., ., ., , ., , earlier. it looks as though this count will _

earlier. it looks as though this count will wind _ earlier. it looks as though this count will wind up _ earlier. it looks as though this count will wind up we - earlier. it looks as though this count will wind up we think . count will wind up we think around 11 o'clock tonight. resuming not just... and resume tomorrow with the bulk of the seats to be declared. anita, how far is the constitutional question dominating this campaign? that's a really good question because you talk to some people and they say, look, this is all about they say, look, this is all about the bread—and—butter issues, the cost of living crisis, health care and education, those topics i mentioned just a second ago. i spent the day talking to voters on tuesday and enter them. the day talking to voters on tuesday and enterthem. no the day talking to voters on tuesday and enter them. no matter what background they were from, whether they were unionist or nationalist, or neither, that was the dominant theme of the conversation. but you can't get away from the fact that the constitutional question is a huge one, as well. and it looks

like, as things are shaping up, that that may change, the two largest parties at the end of this vote will be sinn fein and the democratic unionist party. so sinn fein wants a united ireland, and earlier i spoke to their leader — i asked her about a timeframe for a border poll on irish unity, and she said, "i think there'll be a referendum within the decade, personally," but she thought he could come within five years. you have the dup who have throughout this campaign said, "vote for us because if you don't, you'll get a sinn fein first minister and a border poll." and they clearly are very concerned about northern ireland's constitutional position within the uk. they feel the northern ireland protocol undermines northern irelandposition within the uk. so you could end up with the two

largest parties being polar opposites on that constitutional position, but let me also add in that we've seen a really significant successes in this election so far for the centre ground party, the alliance cross community party. so northern ireland politics never fails to be interesting. fir northern ireland politics never fails to be interesting. or long! i hoe ou fails to be interesting. or long! i hope you get _ fails to be interesting. or long! i hope you get a _ fails to be interesting. or long! i hope you get a good _ fails to be interesting. or long! i hope you get a good night's - hope you get a good night's sleep tonight. thanks very much. in the last few hours, ukrainian ofiicials have said that 50 women, children, and elderly people have been rescued from the beseieged steel plant in the ukrainian city of mariupol. some have been taken to a camp in the russian—controlled town of bezimenne. these are the latest pictures, of the evacuees arriving. the operation is expected to continue on saturday. there were thought to be around 200 people, including at least 20 children still trapped with ukrainian fighters in the steel works. earlier, ukrainian forces accused russia of breaching a ceasefire agreement during the rescue operation, which is being run by the united nations and the red cross. the steelworks in mariupol has become a refuge for civilians and ukrainian fighters as russia

tries to make advances in eastern ukraine. 0ur correspondent laura bicker reports. the russian attacks continue despite promises of a cease—fire, according to this unverified footage released by the ukrainian azov unit. kremlin—backed troops are still firing on this vast steel plant, according to uk intelligence, while ukrainian soldiers and hundreds of civilians shelter inside. they've been using the sprawling network of tunnels as a refuge for more than two months, with very little food or water. around 100 women and children have already been rescued from the depths of the plant. there is a complex operation to free more civilians. but now comes a plea to save the troops, who have used the steelworks to try and make one last stand the city. svetlana's only son is there. she doesn't want to be

identified to protect him. translation: it's horrible. horrible to know that your son is fighting and has nothing left to fight with, in a city that's completely raised to the ground and seized by the occupiers. i would give everything in exchange for him to survive. for everyone who is still there under the bombardment to survive. we beg, we beg all the world countries to help us and save our heroes. it's not them who are complaining and begging, it's us. svetlana was ordered by her son to flee as the russian bombs leveled this once—thriving port. ukrainian officials claim more than 20,000 people have been killed. the relatives of others still fighting can't bear to see these images. yaroslava's husband and her two sons—in—law are also in that ukrainian azov unit. translation: every image is a wound in my heart and in my soul. _ every time.

my wish is that they would survive this. of course they will keep fighting. they are holding on, they are doing the impossible. singing in ukrainian 0utnumbered and outgunned, this small defending force become a potent symbol for ukraine. they may never surrender — by their families are praying they'll at least get a chance to leave alive. laura bicker, bbc news, dnipro. there's been a huge explosion at a luxury hotel in the colonial—era district of the cuban capital, havana. the blast in old havana destroyed the facade of several floors of the hotel saratoga, which was being refurbished. cuban officials say eight people have died, with at least 30 were injured. the president of sri lanka, gotabaya rajapaksa, has declared a new state of emergency, as demands grow for his government to resign.

earlier, police fired tear gas at protesters outside parliament in colombo and a nationwide strike brought much of the country to a halt. there've been weeks of demonstrations against the sri lankan government for its handling of the worst economic crisis in decades. 0ur south asia correspondent rajini vaidyanathan reports from colombo. here, not too far from sri here, not too farfrom sri lanka's parliament, you can see crowds who have gathered again for another night of protest. there is a real sense of celebration and camaraderie here — although earlier, things were tense as police fired tear gas and water cannons into the crowds here. i've talked to almost any protester here, and they'll say they will continue to protest until sri lanka's government quits. in particular, they want the president and his brother, the prime minister, to quit office. now so far, the two brothers say they aren't going

anywhere, and they are promising they will get sri lanka through this financial crisis, but many people here blame them and their economic policies for this mess. now tonight, the president met with his cabinet — we are hearing reports there are some tensions between the two brothers. earlierthis some tensions between the two brothers. earlier this week, there were reports that the prime minister might step down. as of now, both men remain in office. now opposition parties are hoping to table a vote of no confidence against the government and parliament. now parliament doesn't set again until 17 may. 0ne indication on whether the government may have enough support to win and no—confidence motion was the election of the deputy speaker earlier this week — now he quit, the deputy speaker has the backing of the government even though he's from a different party. he quit and was reelected again, and that's were some observers thought the government has the numbers to last us through. by then this

evening, not too long ago, the deputy speaker quit again, leading to quite a confusing scenario where he quit, then he was reelected, now he's quit again. and in many ways, that crisis of confusion and uncertainty sums up what's going on here and sri lanka with millions of families unsure where they'll get their next fuel tank from, where there will get their next meal from, when the next power cut will happen — and of course, people here wondering what the way is out of this financial mess. it all started more than 120 years ago in glasgow — when the legendary scottish footballer robert smyth mccoll decided to use some of his earnings to open three sweet shops in the city — they were called rs mccoll. the business took off — and expanded over the decades as mccolls became convenience stores all over the uk. but now, mccolls says its appointing administrators, putting 16,000 jobs at risk. tonight, there's hope

of a rescue deal — as our business correspondent, emma simpson, reports. from its first shop in glasgow in 1901 to a network of more than 1,000 stores. mccoll�*s is a familiar name in our high streets. shopping locally has never been more popular than during the pandemic, but mccoll�*s has found the going tough. here in stevenage, shoppers say it's handy but don't buy very much. ijust get my newspapers here, and ijust like them because they're available, you know, they're always regular. we're just heading in now to get a birthday card and a drink, a quick grab and go. yes. - good service. not always got what you want. even before covid, convenience stores have been a bright spot here on the high street. but mccoll�*s has been too slow to adapt and providing more of a one—stop shop. it's also had long running supply chain problems struggling to get stock, a business with too much debt, finding it harder and harder to make money. morrison's, already in a partnership with mccoll�*s, put in an offer for the chain overnight,

but it's the owners of this vast petrol station group who now look set to buy the business. the underlying business at mccoll�*s is over 1,000 convenience stores in pretty decent locations. and really now in the future, it's just a question of getting the range right and the pricing right to see the business flourish well into the future. mccoll�*s staff were told today that going into administration would hopefully mean that the business and colleagues would transfer across to a new owner. a deal could be done by monday. emma simpson, bbc news, stevenage. we'll bejoining viewers we'll be joining viewers with the 10pm news we'll be joining viewers with the 10m new we'll be joining viewers with the 10pm new— we'll be joining viewers with the 10m new ., 10pm news with sophie ray fourth -- sophie raworth- _ 10pm news with sophie ray fourth -- sophie raworth. and _ 10pm news with sophie ray fourth -- sophie raworth. and i'll— 10pm news with sophie ray fourth -- sophie raworth. and i'll be _ 10pm news with sophie ray fourth -- sophie raworth. and i'll be coming . sophie raworth. and i'll be coming up with the papers. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. good evening. the earlier rain across northern and western parts of the uk should largely fizzle out through the evening and overnight, and that means that the weekend should be generally dry,

sunny spells, just a few showers in the forecast, i think, tomorrow. so, here's the latest satellite picture, as the weather front crosses the country and moves southwards, here it is very early in the morning, and then i think by the middle of the day, it should be out of the picture, as high pressure builds in. so, through the early hours, a few showers there in east anglia and the southeast. elsewhere across the country, it's a case of clearing skies and our temperatures around 7am in the morning on saturday around 9 celsius in belfast, seven celsius in glasgow, 13 degrees in london with that cloud and a few showers. now, the forecast indicates a fair bit of cloud across east anglia and the southeast in the morning. it could hang around through the afternoon as well, could be some showers, showers also could develop from southern parts of wales across the pen pennines, just about into the midlands. i think the best of the sunshine will be out towards the west across wales, southwestern parts of england, the higher temperatures here up to around 19 degrees or so. all in all, i think saturday

is going to be a mostly fine day. here's sunday, high pressure still in charge, butjust starting to drift out towards the north sea. and this low pressure makes inroads. so, on sunday, i think increasing amounts of cloud out towards the northwest. i think more than anything, its hazy skies. elsewhere, scattered fairweather clouds with light winds, temperatures inland up up to around 18—19 degrees, on the north sea coast, a bit fresher there, closer to 14 degrees. now, here's monday. that weather front really does push in across northern ireland and into scotland, so some wet and breezy weather at times here. but across the midlands, east anglia and the southeast, it's going to be a fine monday with sunshine and quite warm too. given some sunshine, temperatures could get up to around 21 degrees. now, here's the outlook for next week. now, you will notice that the breeze is mostly coming off the atlantic, so it's not going to be all that warm. still temperatures probably in the high teens, just about 20 degrees across the south, but the thinking is that elsewhere across the country,

it will be a good deal cooler with frequent showers and breezy weather. bye— bye. tonight at ten, a tough time for the tories. the conservatives lose almost 500 seats in local elections across britain as the liberal democrats make big gains in england. success for labour in london as they take three tory flagship councils, but elsewhere they fail to make significant gains. we've had a tough night in some parts of the country, but on the other hand, in other parts of the country you're still seeing conservatives going forward and making quite remarkable gains. cheering. believe you me, this is a big turning point for us.