Boris Johnson Concedes To A Difficult Night For The Conservatives Following Council Losses In The 2022 Election
The Conservatives have lost over 460 seats and control of 11 municipalities in local elections.
In southern England, the party lost support to the Liberal Democrats, and important London councils to Labour.
Outside of the city, however, Labour's gains were relatively modest, as the party failed to make a significant breakthrough.
Boris Johnson acknowledged that his party had a "difficult" time in some areas, but claimed that the overall results were mixed.
With nearly all results in, Labour has gained 144 seats, with leader Sir Keir Starmer stating his party was "on track" to win the next general election.
195 of the 200 councils in England, Wales, and Scotland have declared so far.
A handful are anticipated to confirm their results on Saturday, when full results for the Northern Ireland Assembly are also due.
Ahead of the elections, the Conservatives had been preparing for huge losses in England, as they faced assaults over the rising cost of living and the ongoing Partygate scandal, including the prime minister's fine for breaking lockdown rules.
"It is mid-term," Mr Johnson remarked during a visit to Ruislip, north-west London. It's a mixed bag of results, to say the least.