It was billed as a set of local elections that would show us whether Labour is on course to win the general election and the verdict is in.
Sir Keir Starmer looks set to be our next prime minister if this set of local election results is anything to go by.
But he still has a mountain to climb to win the power to do anything.
Because when you extrapolate these 1.7m votes out to give a national estimated share for the main parties with a general election likely next year, Labour looks on course to becoming the largest party at the next election, but falling short of winning an outright majority.
As Labour took councils in key election battlegrounds from Medway in Kent, Swindon in Wiltshire, and East Staffordshire in the West Midlands, Sir Keir and his team will no doubt feel vindicated and jubilant.
But for all these wins, the party leader still has plenty of work to do to be confident of winning the ultimate prize – a majority government – next year.
Based on analysis by our Sky News election experts led by Professor Michael Thrasher, Labour’s vote share is projected to lie between 36 to 38%, with the Conservatives between 28 to 30%.
Read more:
Starmer says Labour ‘on path to majority’ after gaining key authorities in early results
Labour now largest party of local government – local election results in charts
So, Labour is ahead of the Tories by eight or so points, against a projection of a 14% lead ahead of the Tony Blair 1997 landslide, or the 13% lead David Cameron had ahead of winning the most seats but falling short…
