Curtice says that Labour results are

POLLING expert John Curtice has insisted Labour’s results in council elections across England are not “really dramatic” despite the party gaining dozens of seats.

With results still coming in, Labour have regained control of key council targets in the likes of Hartlepool and Redditch – areas where they are aiming to win at the General Election later this year.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are having a torrid time, losing around half the seats they were defending.

But there is evidence Labour have struggled in areas with a significant Muslim population a sign Labour’s stance on Gaza has hurt the party.

Labour lost control of the council in Oldham were two Labour councillors quit the party earlier this year over Gaza. put further holes in the “blue wall” of Tory battleground seats in southern England.

The Greens hoped to make further progress in key targets including Bristol, Worcester, Stroud and Hastings.

Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “North and south, east and west, Greens are winning the trust of voters fed up with the chaos of the Conservatives and the U-turns of Labour.”

The Prime Minister has looked to the Tees Valley for consolation as his party suffered a drubbing in the local elections. Lord Ben Houchen’s re-election on Teesside was one of the few bright spots for the Conservatives as the

Independent candidates, several of whom explicitly campaigned in support of Palestine, gained five seats on Thursday night, pushing the council into no overall control.

Giving his verdict on the results, Professor John Curtice said Labour had had a decent night but were not reaching their heights they did under Tony Blair before his landslide 1997 victory.

Curtice said: “There is plenty for Labour to be happy about, but