gmb45
5th June, 2009, 06:50 AM
Labour is expected to get a mauling as the results of the local elections are declared.
The bulk of English county council results will come this afternoon, with European results due on Sunday night.
In England, 27 county councils and seven unitary councils are up for grabs. There have also been three mayoral votes.
In the first council to declare overnight, Labour was forced into third place in Bristol.
The party lost several seats to the Liberal Democrats, who took overall control for the first time in their history. The Tories also gained seats from Labour in the council.
The results come as Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces a weekend fighting for his political life.
As polls closed, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell resigned from the Cabinet, delivering a major blow to the Prime Minister's authority.
In quitting, Mr Purnell was the third Secretary of State lost by Mr Brown in as many days.
It has given the Prime Minister a further headache in attempts to assemble a new Cabinet and construct a top team that will unite around him.
Many in Westminster now expect Mr Brown to begin the most important reshuffle of his life today.
If he waits until Monday, as originally expected, the results of the European elections will also be in - likely to deal yet another blow to the Prime Minister's authority.
The bulk of English county council results will come this afternoon, with European results due on Sunday night.
In England, 27 county councils and seven unitary councils are up for grabs. There have also been three mayoral votes.
In the first council to declare overnight, Labour was forced into third place in Bristol.
The party lost several seats to the Liberal Democrats, who took overall control for the first time in their history. The Tories also gained seats from Labour in the council.
The results come as Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces a weekend fighting for his political life.
As polls closed, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell resigned from the Cabinet, delivering a major blow to the Prime Minister's authority.
In quitting, Mr Purnell was the third Secretary of State lost by Mr Brown in as many days.
It has given the Prime Minister a further headache in attempts to assemble a new Cabinet and construct a top team that will unite around him.
Many in Westminster now expect Mr Brown to begin the most important reshuffle of his life today.
If he waits until Monday, as originally expected, the results of the European elections will also be in - likely to deal yet another blow to the Prime Minister's authority.