Early Local Election Results Show UKIP Gains

Early results from local elections across England show UKIP has made major gains at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives.

As the counting of votes continues for 161 English councils, UKIP has so far seen a net gain of 66 seats.

The first council to change hands was at Castle Point, in Essex, where five UKIP gains left the Conservatives one seat short of overall control.

The Tories have lost control of six councils in total, including Southend-on-Sea and Basildon.

UKIP saw a significant gain of 11 seats in Basildon, where the Conservatives lost seven seats and Labour two.

A ballot box is emptied at Trinity School in Croydon

The swing sees UKIP become the second strongest party in the council.

Sky's election analyst Professor Michael Thrasher said on the basis of the early results, UKIP looks likely to make significant gains in next year's general elections.

Prof Thrasher said UKIP's success suggests the party would claim at least one seat in the House of Commons in 2015.

Labour has so far claimed victory in seventeen councils, including Sunderland, South Tyneside, Sandwell and Birmingham.

But UKIP has made significant gains in Labour heartlands, including taking 10 of the 21 council seats up for election in Rotherham.

UKIP's director of communications Patrick O'Flynn told Sky News he wants the party to secure more than 100 council seats.

He said: "That would be terrific for us. I think we can do it."

The Conservatives currently hold eleven councils, including Swindon, Tandridge, Hertsmere and Fareham.

Results of the local elections are seen as a key indicator of the public mood ahead of next year's general election.

Counting begins in Fleming Park Leisure Centre in Eastleigh

Votes were cast on Thursday for 161 councils across the country, and a further 11 councils in Northern Ireland.

More than 40 million people also had the opportunity to cast their ballots at polling stations to select their MEP.

The results from the European polls will not be known until Sunday, after people living in all member states across the European Union have voted.

In the lead up Thursday's local and European polls, Labour's campaigning focused on seats that are likely to be major battlegrounds in next year's general election.

Mr Miliband and his wife Justine in Yorkshire after casting their votes

Labour claims that a strong result would mean an extra 200 councillors for Labour.

But senior MP Emily Thornberry said she expected the figure to be "around 150".

She told Sky News: "If the Tories had a real chance of winning the next general election, they have to win seats tonight because in 2010 that was the night they failed to win a majority.

"In 2015 they have to improve on what they have done now and they haven't and they're losing seats."

As the polls closed late on Thursday, Mr Miliband thanked his party activists on Twitter and looked ahead to the general election.

Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha vote in Westminster

"Thank you to every Labour supporter out campaigning today (especially those who got soaked!)," he said.

"Today, we campaigned for a Britain where hardworking people are better off. Tomorrow the campaign begins to win that same fight in May 2015."

In a message to Conservative supporters on Twitter, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "To all the Conservatives who campaigned these past few weeks: thank you.

"Whatever the results, I'm proud of the campaign we fought together.

"And, with the polls now closed, I'd also like to say thank you to everyone who voted Conservative today. Your support is hugely appreciated."

Mr Farage casts his vote in Cudham, Kent

UKIP is expected to finish on top in the European elections, in which all 73 of the UK's seats in the European Parliament are up for grabs.

Party leader Nigel Farage had encouraged voters to trigger an "earthquake" in British politics with a strong showing at the polls.

A senior Labour source has conceded that UKIP will do well in the polls.

The source said: "We are now in an era of four-party politics but what we have got to do, and what we hope we are starting to do, is win where it matters in the local elections."

Labour is predicted to finish second, followed by the Conservatives in third place.

Mr Clegg's Liberal Democrats are bracing for some "difficult" results

The Liberal Democrats, which in one opinion poll were placed fifth behind the Green Party, could lose all of their MEPs.

The party, which is led by Nick Clegg, acknowledges it could be in for a "difficult" night and faces a battle to avoid losing control of some of its councils, including Kingston-upon-Thames.

But Business Secretary Vince Cable told Sky News the losses for the Lib Dems could be lower than predicted.

"It is going to be a difficult night - I think we've never concealed that - but not just for us. I think both Labour and the Conservatives will find it difficult.

"But we're in Government, we take a kicking for the things the Government does that are unpopular and it does reflect on us.

"We have got approaching 800 councillors up. I think we will do rather better than some of the predictions."

:: Follow all the results as they come in on Twitter with @skyelections.

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