There are numerous election stories playing out today. But one that unites both Labour and the Conservatives is the disappearance of their supposed heartlands. Across the north of England, long-held Labour seats are going teal – a trend we can expect to see repeated in the south of Wales later today. The Tories, meanwhile, have had some patches of success in areas of London – but are getting absolutely hammered on the fringes in Havering and in Essex.
During the election campaign, Nigel Farage was keen to talk up the importance of Essex. It was the only area he visited twice on the campaign trail: an indication that he saw it as ground zero in the battle to destroy the Conservatives. Senior shadow cabinet figures Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Alex Burghart, Rebecca Harris and Priti Patel all have seats here; prominent backbenchers like Mark Francois and John Whittingdale are long-standing Members here too.
Essex has long held a symbolic place in Tory affections, as the aspirational area of working-class Toryism on which Margaret Thatcher delivered her three election victories. But it seems now that the onetime true blue areas of the county are now swinging decisively teal. With more than a dozen seats left to declare, Reform has already taken control of Essex County Council, where the Conservatives have held a majority for 25 years. Expect more gains in places like Thurrock, onetime Ukip strongholds, throughout the hours ahead.
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