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Elections 2021

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  1. Essex local elections: What's happened so far and what comes next

    The big story of the night in Essex was that the Conservatives took control of Harlow District Council from the Labour Party for the first time in nine years.

    Labour held on to just one of the seven seats it was contesting and council leader Mark Ingall lost his seat.

    He said he was "disappointed".

    Southend remains in no overall control as does Colchester where the Greens gained a second seat.

    The Conservatives held on to control of Thurrock Council and Rochford District Council.

    Harlow count

    Counting continues elsewhere today with results due from Basildon, Brentwood and Castle Point this afternoon and Epping Forest early this evening.

    The results for Essex County Council will also come through this evening and the county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is due to be announced on Saturday.

  2. Thurrock Council: Conservative hold

    Thurrock Council

    The Conservatives have held onto control of Thurrock Council and took five seats from Independents and one from Labour.

  3. Local elections 2021: What happened in Essex in 2019?

    The local elections of 2019 seem a dim and distant memory but 2 May was a bad day for the Conservatives in Essex.

    Not only did they fail to take control of Colchester council - their main target - their leader lost his seat to the Greens. Darius Laws, who was beaten by Green Mark Goacher, said Brexit was partly to blame for the poor showing.

    The Tories also lost control of Basildon and Southend due to gains by Labour, independents and Liberal Democrats but held on to Castle Point, Brentwood and Rochford,

    Chelmsford, Essex election 2019

    Essex Tory losses in May 2019:

    • Basildon Council, Tendring District Council and Southend Borough Council went to no overall control as the Tories lost seats
    • Maldon District Council saw a 25-seat majority slashed to just three by gains from independents
    • In Tory target council Colchester, their local group leader lost his seat to the Greens
    • They lost control of Chelmsford City Council to the Liberal Democrats, where they had held a 45-seat majority
    • The Tories retained control of Castle Point, Rochford, Braintree, Epping, Maldon and Brentwood Councils
  4. Local elections 2021: How do Essex councils spend your money?

    On Thursday, people across Essex cast their ballots in elections for the county council, several district and borough councils and two unitary authorities.

    Local authorities are funded from a variety of sources including council tax, government grants and other income, like parking charges.

    The BBC looked at how a representative £100 of your money is spent by Essex County Council.

    Essex County Council spending
  5. Local elections 2021: Good morning!

    Katy Lewis

    BBC News Online

    Polling in Colchester on Thursday
    Image caption: One of the polling stations in Colchester on Thursday morning

    Welcome to our live page for the 2021 local election results for Essex.

    We will be bringing you the results as they come in overnight.

    Most of the counts this year will be done on Friday and over the weekend, but overnight we are expecting results for the district council polls in Colchester, Harlow and Rochford and unitary council elections in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

    In England, Thursday saw elections for 143 councils, mayors in 13 areas and 39 police and crime commissioners.

    Here isa very simple guideto all the different elections so you know what is happening in your area and across the country.

  6. Envelope update

    Severe accident: M25 Essex anti-clockwise

    BBC News Travel

    M25 Essex anti-clockwise severe accident, at J31 for A282 Canterbury Way Lakeside.

    M25 Essex - M25 lane closed on exit slip road to J30 (Purfleet), two lanes closed and it's very slow anticlockwise at J31, A282 (Lakeside), because of an accident.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  7. Envelope update

    Severe disruption: M25 Essex clockwise

    BBC News Travel

    M25 Essex clockwise severe disruption, from J31 for A1306 to J1A for A206.

    M25 Essex - One lane closed and it's very slow on M25 QE2 Bridge clockwise in Kent from J31 A1306 to J1a, A206 (Dartford), because of a breakdown.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  8. Envelope update

    Severe accident: M25 Essex clockwise

    BBC News Travel

    M25 Essex clockwise severe accident, after J31 for A282 Canterbury Way Lakeside.

    M25 Essex - M25 partially blocked and queues clockwise after J31, A282 (Lakeside), because of an accident.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time