Labour have gained 85 seats in UK councils following yesterday’s local elections in 164 local authorities.

Results already declared give Labour new overall control of  councils in Liverpool, Coventry, Doncaster and Enfield, and show an improvement of 85 seats on previous elections among the 56 seats already declared.

So far, the Conservatives are the single party to have lost most, dropping 26 seats, and losing overall control of four councils. The Liberal Democrats have lost seven seats.

Among the councils still yet to announce their results, Labour are expected to show the most improvement.

This is thought to be because the higher turnout in the general election has uniquely coincided with local elections in key urban areas, such as all 32 London boroughs, and all metropolitan borough councils. Here, voters who otherwise would not vote in council polls will do so, which is is generally assumed to favour Labour, whose core supporters are thought to be more apathetic.

More local election coverage will follow later today.

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