With Labour expected to buck the national trend and lose seats on the authority, opposition candidates expected to gain.

It has been a victorious night for Oldham's Independents - and a difficult one for Labour. There were cheers across the count floor of the Civic Centre in the early hours this morning (May 3) as Independent candidates gained seats time and time again.

Anger over Labour’s position on the war in Gaza led to some council losses and raised fears over its performance in the West Midlands mayoralty contest, clouding an otherwise strong set of local election results for the party.