Local election results as votes counted across Essex
Voters in Essex have had their say in local council elections
Last updated 6th May 2022
Voters in Essex have had their say in local council elections, and we're bringing you the results as we get them.
The Conservatives have retained control of six councils in Essex: Basildon, Brentwood, Harlow, Rochford, Epping Forest and Thurrock, making gains in some areas, but losing seats to Labour and the Liberal Democrats in others, in an election prefaced by national scandal, including Partygate and increases in the cost of living.
Conservative councillors now occupy 25 of the 42 seats on the Essex authority, exactly the same number as they did following the May 2021 elections.
Results
These will be updated with more information as we get it.
Basildon - Conservative Hold
Conservative's held onto Basildon taking one seat from the Tory's.
Conservative Sam Gascoyne narrowly took the Pitsea North West seat previously occupied by the leader of the district council's Labour group by 20 votes.
Brentwood- Conservative Hold
Conservative's hold but lose two seats.
Colchester - Remains in No Overall Control (NOC)
Conservative's managed to lose four seats, including that of its Tory leader Paul Dundas.
He missed out to the Lib Dems.
Castle Point - Independent GAIN
The Castle Point Council has been taken by the Independents.
They stole six seats off the Tories
Epping Forest - Conservative Hold
Conservative's hold on to majority and gain a seat.
Harlow - Conservative Hold
Conservative's gain one seat and hold on to the majority.
Rochford - Conservative Hold
Despite losing six seats the Conservative's have held onto the majority.
Southend - Remains in No Overall Control (NOC)
Conservative's have lost two seats in Southend's first election as a city council.
Thurrock - Conservative Hold
Tory's gain three seats and hold onto their majority.
What's happened nationally?
Labour are celebrating some big successes this morning after winning Wandsworth in London, a seat held by the Conservatives since 1978.
The Reds have also taken control of Westminster Council for the first time ever.
They haven't made as much progress as they'd hoped though elsewhere, losing Hull to the Lib Dems.
The Green Party's also picked up a number of new seats.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has told us this morning its been a tough night for the Tory's.
He's been speaking to our Westminster Correspondent Georgie Prodromou:
Counting is continuing with a clearer picture of the overall results expected to emerge throughout the day.