Labour’s Westminster takeover makes history

Something unusual happened across London in the early hours of Friday.

Three of the capital’s flagship, long-held Conservative councils were seized by Labour in the UK local elections.

Wandsworth went red for the first time in 44 years and so did Barnet - but the biggest shock was the flagship council of Westminster, which is under new management as Labour took control after the Conservatives ruled since 1964.

Although Sir Keir Starmer’s party failed to make larger gains outside of the capital, the Liberal Democrats also enjoyed a strong night.

Now there remains a single blue redoubt in the centre of the capital and that’s Kensington & Chelsea, while the Tories also held Bexley, Hillingdon and many commuter belt councils neighbouring the outer boroughs.

So what does it mean for services and council tax in the likes of Wandsworth, always trumpeting its status as the council with England’s lowest rates.

To examine what all this means for the country’s political map - and the prime minister's future - we’re joined by the Standard’s deputy political editor, David Bond, who's been on the election trail speaking to voters in Wandsworth.

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