A rain-sodden Rishi Sunak announced the date of the vote as July 4 in a surprise address from Downing Street this afternoon.

Keir Starmer tried to get on the front foot on migration by parading Tory defector Natalie Elphicke at a speech in her Dover constituency.

Appearing in front of TV cameras for the first time since the full outcome of last week’s local elections were revealed, the PM acknowledged ‘disappointing’ results.

Andy Street has been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts.

LIVE: Follow MailOnline’s live coverage of the local election results across the country as the fallout continues from the Conservative’s losses in London and the West Midlands.

Richard Parker appeared to be all smiles with party members and supporters in Birmingham, where the result was set to be formally announced.

LIVE: Follow MailOnline’s live coverage of the local election results across the country as Labour insiders claim the mayoral election for London is on a knife edge.

Putting a brave face on grim results, Rishi Sunak admitted that voters are ‘frustrated’ but argued that Keir Starmer has not sealed the deal.

Reform MP Lee Anderson, who was previously a Tory deputy chair, levelled the jibe after a grim local elections night for the PM.

Labour are boasting of being ‘on track’ for power at Westminster after making gains in key council contests.