We've just been speaking with the chair of the Conservative Party, Richard Holden.

Asked how he is feeling about the results so far, he told Sky News that the Tories are "coming off a difficult, a very high watermark set of election since 2021".

He argued that the 2021 results were "unusual", which is why the losses in this set of local elections seem so vast.

Sky's Anna Jones noted that Labour won the Blackpool South by-election with a swing of over 26%, and asked if he is really worried that it shows other seats in the "red wall" that went Tory in 2019 will be lost at the upcoming general election.

The senior Tory replied that voter turnout is much lower than at a general election, and added: "I don't want to see us lose any seats."

He pointed to the former Tory MP having had to stand down due to being caught in a lobbying scandal, and the former Tory MP in a neighbouring seat losing the party whip.

Mr Holden also said Reform UK split the Tory vote, allowing Labour to win (although if you add the Tory and Reform votes together, Labour would still win).

"Not something I'd like to see repeated," he said.

Challenged by our deputy political editor Sam Coates, Mr Holden conceded that there is "no doubt" Reform UK is harming the Tory voter base.

"There's no point in trying to over-talk it - this is going to be a tough night for the Conservatives, and a tough couple of days," he added, noting that the majority of the results are still due to be declared.

In a blow to the Conservative Party, Sky News analysis shows that if tonight's results are repeated at the general election, Labour would win two key Tory seats.

The opposition would win both Aldershot and Plymouth Moor View - both currently held by sitting government ministers.

The current Aldershot MP is Leo Docherty, the armed forces minister, and he has a majority of 16,698 votes.

The seat has been held by the Tories since its creation in 1918.

With boundary changes taken into account, Sky News projects that - if tonight's results were repeated - Labour would achieve the 17.4% swing it needs in a general election.

The current Plymouth Moor View MP is Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, and he has a majority of 12,897 votes, having first won the seat from Labour in 2015.

But with boundary changes taken into account, Sky News projects that Labour would take it back if tonight's results were repeated at a general election.

Some more results are trickling in as dawn breaks.

Southampton has declared, and Labour has kept control, despite losing two seats.

The Conservatives and the Lib Dems picked up one of those seats each.

Meanwhile in Winchester, the Lib Dems will retain control.

The count is still under way, so we do not have the results in full yet.

But mathematically, it is now impossible for the party to lose control.

As we reported shortly after 5am, the Conservative Party just about clung on to Harlow council.

The Tories have 17 seats, losing five seats to Labour that now has 16 (result in full here).

Spinning is well under way, and a Tory party source has been in touch to paint the result as a failure for Labour.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer campaigned there earlier this week, and told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that Labour does "need to win in places like Harlow".

The source said: "Sir Keir Starmer, in one of his multiple visits to the area, said that Labour need to win Harlow. They have failed to do so.

"Whilst this is [a] tough night for the Conservative party, it's clear there is absolutely no love for Keir Starmer."

Despite losing a seat, the Liberal Democrats keep control of Gosport council.

The Tories gained one seat on the council near Portsmouth, while Labour holds its two seats.

Meanwhile in Portsmouth itself, the council will remain under no overall control.

Labour retained the same number of seats, while the Tories lost four.

They went to the Liberal Democrats (+1) and independents (+3).

The Conservatives are digesting another by-election defeat this morning, this time in Blackpool South (see 04.46 post).

We've now had some reaction from the party.

"This was a tough fight, and David Jones was an excellent candidate who campaigned hard for every single vote," a Tory spokesperson says.

"This was always going to be difficult election given the specific circumstances related to the previous incumbent.

"What has been clear is that a vote for Reform is a vote for Sir Keir Starmer - taking us right back to square one."

In a blow to the Labour Party, it is set to lose Oldham to no overall control.

Although the count is still under way, the party cannot win enough seats now to hold it.

With three seats left to declare, they are five short of the 31 seats required for control.

Good morning - it's been a busy night in the Politics Hub after yesterday's local and mayoral elections.

Counts are still taking place across the UK - and will be until Saturday - but we've had a raft of results throughout the early hours.

The most significant was the result of the Blackpool South by-election, which was won by Labour with a majority of 7,607 (41.4%) - and a swing of 26.3%.

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer says the "seismic" result shows it's "time for change".

And here are the noteworthy council results you need to know:

Redditch - Labour gain from the Tories

Hartlepool - Labour gain from no overall control

Rushmoor - Labour grabbed from the Conservatives

Thurrock - a Labour gain from no overall control

North East Lincolnshire - lost by the Tories to no overall control

Harlow - the Tories managed to just about hang on against a challenge from Labour

You can see the full breakdown of the local election results so far below...

There's been a flurry of local election results this morning.

The latest is from Lincoln, which remains under Labour control.

In fact, Labour gained three seats in the council.

The Tories lost four, and the Lib Dems gained one.

In the latest result, we've just learned that Portsmouth Council will remain under no overall control.