Will Labour hold its majority in Wolverhampton?published at 13:12 BST
13:12 BST
Rob Trigg
at the Wolverhampton count
The Prime Minister launched Labour’s local election campaign in Wolverhampton for good reason – the city has been loyal to the party.
For 15 years at least half of the 60 councillors on City of Wolverhampton Council have represented Labour.
In fact, it has been the largest party on the authority for almost 50 years.
But the results of this election could severely reduce its political dominance.
Image source, John Bray/BBC
The city’s Labour group is defending 16 of the 20 seats on offer at this round of elections, in which a third of the council faces the vote every four years.
Hypothetically, if Reform UK were to win all 21 seats available, then the party, which already has two councillors, would still not have enough seats to be the largest group.
But it is mathematically possible, however, for the party to end Labour’s overall majority and weaken its clout to rule.
Of all recent council elections in Wolverhampton, this is the one in which Labour candidates would not have gone to bed last night expecting the level of support they have been offered in the past.