Understanding the context of 4 years in the past, when most of those seats had been final contested, ought to assist us to observe the council outcomes as they're declared. 

The Conservatives had been unpopular, suffered a severe lack of councils and greater than 1,300 seats.

It wasn't Labour that inflicted such horrible losses - actually, Labour misplaced seats and councils too.

It was the Liberal Democrats, Greens and totally different flavours of Independents that got here off greatest.

Our estimate of the nationwide equal vote noticed the 2 essential events on simply 31% apiece, the Lib Dems on 17% and various others taking the remaining share.

These are the baseline figures that can form the 2023 elections - events extra unpopular now than then will lose floor, these whose recognition has grown will enhance.

But these are native elections in England the place candidates, events and points can and do matter. Expect the surprising.

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Labour is on the attack. The newest polling places them round 43% - a 12-point improve in recognition. But Labour seldom appeals to native voters in addition to it does with survey respondents.

There's a niche of about six factors between the 2 measures. That nonetheless means a possible swing from Conservative to Labour and, with that, a switch of seats and councils.

The Liberal Democrats are optimistic too. Making regular positive factors from Conservatives in council by-elections, and some parliamentary equivalents, the occasion typically defies its lowly ballot scores.

There is a nuanced assault, concentrating sources in areas decided by alternatives to unseat Conservatives on the subsequent basic election.

So, it appears like Conservatives combating off Labour and Liberal Democrats this time round.

Not fairly.

The affect of independents and small events in 2019 signifies that one in 10 seats are being defended by these teams.

This muddies the image. If one of many essential events is extra profitable than the opposite in successful seats again that can change the sample of positive factors and losses. So, pay shut consideration to the general place.

Read extra:Local elections 2023: All you need to knowHow to cut through the political spin as the results come inVoters have one pressing issue on their minds - analysis

Sixty-two councils count on a consequence from midnight by to breakfast time. Most of the earliest declarers are authorities choosing a 3rd of seats.

Even so, greater than 1,700 seats, a fifth of the full, will likely be determined throughout this part.

There are 22 Conservative-controlled councils whose fates are on the road - a lack of simply two seats means Brentwood and Windsor & Maidenhead fall, three seats and North West Leicestershire and South Gloucestershire go the identical means.

Basildon and Harlow, among the many very earlier declarers, have Conservative majorities weak to the lack of 4 seats. It's important if Harlow goes as a result of the wards being defended by the Conservatives have massive majorities.

Some Conservative councils are choosing all seats and it'll take longer to course of the ballots. In Dacorum, Hertfordshire, their majority could also be below menace from Liberal Democrats.

An even bigger headline is that if Medway falls to Labour. This was a brand new council in 1997 however even throughout its landslide victory, Labour couldn't win it outright. The successful line is 28 seats so watch this one carefully.

There are councils the place no occasion has an general majority and the place Labour may break by.

Hartlepool noticed an unusual parliamentary by-election in 2021. Only a handful of instances for the reason that battle has the occasion of presidency captured a seat from the opposition.

The council isn't any much less fascinating due to the presence of Independents. Five are searching for re-election and Labour must make positive factors right here whether it is to get better floor it misplaced in 2019.

Bolton too has its fair proportion of Independents, however new boundaries imply an entire council election and a chance for Labour to re-establish its credentials.

As daybreak breaks, watch Stoke-on-Trent - a metropolis that repeatedly elected Labour MPs till it did not.

The council too was solidly Labour till inner feuding paved the best way for Independents after which Conservatives to realize territory.

Labour's ambition to exchange the Conservatives nationally is being examined right here. A minimal requirement is that it should turn out to be the most important occasion. On an awesome evening, it would take management.

As we pause for breakfast, the place are we when it comes to general seat positive factors and losses?

The Conservatives have 700 seats to barter on this a part of the proceedings. Net losses of 200 seats at this juncture will not be an excellent omen. Half that quantity, the occasion will likely be extra optimistic and accusing Labour of under-performing.

There's a small group of 20 councils that begin counting after breakfast and recommend they will be completed by lunchtime.

Cannock Chase has a tiny Conservative majority and it is weak. Walsall may even see Conservative seats swing to Labour, however it could be a shock if the council modified fingers.

Keep a watch out for Solihull the place the Greens are the principle opposition on the Conservative-led council. A swing of three Conservative seats to a mixture of the Greens and Liberal Democrats would sign defeat.

Labour is more likely to fall in need of taking management of Burnley, however the Liberal Democrats should be hoping that a few positive factors would give them general management of Teignbridge in Devon.

More than half the 230 councils file their ends in mid to late afternoon. This is a crucial interval.

Some 1,800 Conservative seats are on this batch - fewer than half of their 82 councils too.

There is scope for widespread swings in fortune however, in some unspecified time in the future, it can turn out to be obvious whether or not there's a clear winner. If not, a prudent choice of council outcomes is required for every occasion's narrative.

As the afternoon progresses, there are councils, together with Cherwell and Pendle, the place defeat of a single Conservative councillor means the lack of management.

Labour will count on to make the positive factors that oust the Conservatives from Great Yarmouth, Erewash and presumably Dover. If Sir Keir Starmer has gone to a Labour celebration in Medway, then a bit of detour could also be so as.

A harder goal, however tactically the larger prize, is Swindon, which Labour final held 23 years in the past.

The occasion has been enjoying for prime stakes right here, sending the chief to launch the occasion's election marketing campaign.

Labour trails the Conservatives by 10 seats. Five positive factors and the council strikes into no general management. Another and it turns into Labour's and, with that, Swindon will likely be used entrance and centre to declare that the Conservatives are completed and a change of presidency is imminent.

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There's one other clutch of councils within the Tees Valley coming our means. This space typified Labour's drawback in 2019, shedding floor within the May elections, adopted by an enormous defeat within the basic election months later.

Darlington, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees should present indicators of Labour's restoration.

The Greens are worthy of consideration in Mid Suffolk, the place they battle with the Conservatives for title of largest occasion. But good news right here disappears if the occasion buckles below Labour strain in Brighton & Hove.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats could possibly be advancing in councils like Chichester, Elmbridge, Surrey Heath, Waverley, and Wokingham. But if the Conservatives can face up to strain on their councillor base, then parliamentary seats in these areas turn out to be safer.

There are round 30 councils scheduled to declare a consequence after teatime. Everyone concerned will likely be conscious that nothing ought to get in the best way of the Coronation on Saturday.

Counting will turn out to be tense in some Conservative councils, like in Staffordshire Moorlands, the place the result's on a knife-edge.

The similar goes for Amber Valley (gained in 2021 following Labour's collapse), Test Valley (Conservative all through this century), and West Berkshire (the place the Liberal Democrats could return to energy after a 20-year absence).