Thurrock election results 2024: Labour wins council in Leave-voting target seat

Labour has won control in Thurrock council in Essex, in a significant achievement for the party in a heavily Leave-voting area where it hopes to gain ground at the general election.

The party gained 25 seats in the unitary authority, whichdeclared effective bankruptcy in 2022 amid controversy over its financial decisions.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This is exactly the kind of place we need to be winning to gain a majority in a general election. The people of Thurrock have sent the Conservatives a message that they want change.”

The area, previously in Conservative and then more recently no overall control, was the fourth highest Leave-voting area.

BBC journalist Henry Zeffman said: “Labour making strides here suggests that the Brexit divide is becoming much less effective at explaining British politics, unlike in the aftermath of the referendum where in many cases Brexiteers moved towards the Conservatives.”

See more coverage of the 2024 local elections here.

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