Reform and the Lib Dems make inroads in traditional Conservative heartlands in the South of England
The Conservatives have faced twin threats in their traditional heartlands in the South, shedding seats on councils to both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats.
Kent County Council, which has been run by the Conservatives since 1997, has been won by Reform UK.
Nigel Farage has described the Conservative losses as an "apocalypse", with the former Tory leader of Kent County Council, Roger Gough, losing his seat to a Reform candidate.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's warning that these local elections would be 'difficult' for the party has materialised as Conservative councillors have lost their seats throughout the day.
In the South of England, counting has been taking place for elections held on 1 May to county councils in Kent and Oxfordshire. Full elections are also taking place to the unitary authorities of Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire.
The Liberal Democrats have also benefited from a collapse of the Tory vote in parts of Kent, winning the coastal division of Cheriton Sandgate & Hythe East.
Nigel Farage, who is from Kent, said Reform UK was 'now the main opposition party' across the country.
This was the first major electoral test for the political parties since last year's general election, with both Labour and the Conservatives bracing themselves for a tough set of results.
The scale of Tory losses in the 'Garden of England' will be particularly alarming, as party activists prepare to defend their control of other councils in the region next year.
Full elections were cancelled for county councils in Essex, East Sussex, West Sussex and Hampshire. Elections were also postponed to Isle of Wight and Thurrock councils.
These postponed polls were to allow for council reorganisation in the region, and the introduction of elected mayors.
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