Recent local elections in Cumbria have shown a huge defeat for Tories and a big win for Labour.

Elections were held last night in both the new authorities for town and parish councils.

Results have been steadily coming in since May 4 and show a huge majority for Labour and most Conservative candidates going on unelected.

This is reflected nationally, with Tories losing in key battlegrounds, as was predicted by YouGov in the run-up.

In some wards, such as St Johns in Workington, Netherhall, and the Penrith North and West wards of Penrith Town Council, only independents and Labour candidates were elected.

In many wards no candidates submitted a description for what party, if any, they represent, or if they are independent.

The pattern was also seen in the Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness elections last year, which elected a Labour and Lib Dem majority respectively, showing another big loss for the Conservative party ruling parliament.

Another facet of this election was the low turnout, with some wards showing turnout rates lower than 17 per cent, such as Westfield in Workington which had a 16.76 per cent turnout.

While just a fraction of the results were declared by Friday morning (May 5), Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party, said the gains showed his party was on course to win at the next general election too.

He said to supporters in Medway, a key target for Labour: “You didn't just get it over the line, you blew the doors off.

"We're having fantastic results across the country.

"Make no mistake, we are on course for a Labour majority at the next general election."

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said it’s still just early days to predict a Labour win, as he spoke outside Conservative HQ on Friday: “"We're making progress in key election battlegrounds like Peterborough, Bassetlaw and Sandwell,.

"I am not detecting any massive groundswell of movement to the Labour party or excitement about their agenda."