Major test of Public Opinion before a General Election later this year. Theres little good news for Prime Minister rishi sunak. At a by election in Blackpool South, his party suffered its Third Largest swing to the Opposition Labour Party since the second world war. At a local council level, the results are no better. The conservatives have lost half of the seats announced so far. Experts say they could be on track to lose a staggering 500 councillors, one of the worst performances at the polls in four decades. Heres our Political Editor chris mason. Cheering. Northallerton in North Yorkshire this afternoon. The Prime Minister lives a few miles away, and look whos turned up to rub his nose in it. York and North Yorkshire, the wider county so often rock solid conservative, has elected a labour mayor. Weve had really good results across the country all day long, but this is a very, very special moment, david, to become the mayor here. And thank you to the team for all the fantastic work that they have done. Because through the villages and the towns of North Yorkshire, people have voted for change. There have been smiles and red rosettes all over the place, taking the council in the Military Town in aldershot in hampshire. Labour did the same in hartlepool in the north east of england. And on the south coast in ada in west sussex, where theyve never won before. But five independent candidate standing on a pro gaza Platform Cost Labour Control in oldham in Greater Manchester as evidence labours stance on gaza has had an impact, particularly in places with a significant muslim population. Earlier, keir starmer was in blackpool to celebrate winning a westminster seat there. Winning wasnt surprising, the scale of labours victory was. Music. The mood music for the Prime Minister pretty dire, then. Rishi sunak was in Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. Obviously its disappointing to lose good, hard working conservative councillors, and im grateful to them for all their service in local government keeping council tax low and delivering services for local people. But weve still got lots of results to come. One of their few islands of optimism in a sea of gloom, the tees valley. The Conservative Ben Houchen wearing victory, but not a tory rosette. He won by a million miles last time. It was much closer this time, and he had this message for the Prime Minister. The people that im hearing that may not be thinking about voting conservative or are currently thinking whether they want to vote conservative at the next general i election, they want more progress. We need to give them the excuse to vote for us, and we havent quite given them that excuse yet. And in classic marginal harlow in essex, the conservatives managed to cling on, just. The Liberal Democrats delight in the less than subtle photo opportunity. Here they are in winchester in hampshire. Lets make this conservative government history cheering. Theyre suggesting here the conservatives are soon to be as dead as, yes, the dinosaurs and point to gains theyre making at the tories expense. In so many parts of the country, itll be conservative mps worried about Liberal Democrats. Across the south east, the blue wall, the south west, in many other parts of the country where we are the challenges to the conservatives, people know that if we want to get rid of this awful conservative government and make them history, they should vote liberal democrat. Reform uk, the successor to the brexit party, gives some conservatives the collie wobbles. They came within a whisker of beating the tories in the blackpool by election. Whats rapidly becoming clear is basically as more people hear about reform, were becoming the real opposition to the labour party in the north, in the midlands, in wales. Were on the way up, and its quite clear that the tories are on the way down. And the green party is volunteering a bow. This is hastings in east sussex. The trend of the greens steady rise in local politics continues. A fantastic set of results for the green party. The fifth local election in a row i where we scored a Record Number of green councillors being elected, winning seats in all corners of the country from labour. And from the conservatives, in rural and urban areas alike. The Democratic Process comes with certain rituals colour, stamina and sleep deprivation. And winners clutching babies. There are yet more results to come tomorrow. Chris mason, bbc news. Lets speak now to our westminster correspondent harry farley. What does the results that we have seen so far, what are they tell us about any potential General Election coming up . I about any potential General Election cominu u . ~. , about any potential General Election cominu u . ~. , coming up . I think with a telus is the results coming up . I think with a telus is the results are coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going to coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going to be coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going to be pretty| the results are going to be pretty dire for the conservatives, if you extrapolate out from these results certainly. It was not a good night for the conservatives, and if we take that forward to a General Election it does not look very positive for them. Member when rishi sunak when he became premonition or his immediate challenge was to stabilise the economy and bring some certainty and call him back to government. Many did that in many ways. His second challenge is to revitalise the conservative party fortunes. They were far behind the polls when he took over. And from the results that we have seen tonight, they are still very far behind in the polls. What it tells us about a General Election is not good for the conservatives, huge swings from them to labour across the board. We heard about Blackpool South and that by election for the Monitoring Constituency there. A massive sling of 26 from the conservatives to labour from there. The question for labour is habit than enough notjust to become the Largest Party in westminster but to gain a majority . That recall would be a huge task. They currently. The conservatives have currently a majority of somewhere in the 50s. In 2019, the conservatives had a majority of more than 80. It would be a mammoth task for labour to overturn that and i become only the Largest Party but again the majority in the question for them is they have had a good night and they have done well, but the projected share of the vote if we take the results that we have had in its template then out across the country, we estimate that lara would win 34 of the vote. That is good but we are not quite clear if its good enough for a majority. Not quite clear if its good enough for a majority for a maority. 0k, interesting, thanks for a majority. 0k, interesting, thanks very for a majority. 0k, interesting, thanks very much for a majority. 0k, interesting, thanks very much indeed. Lets speak to joe twyman, co founder and director of the Public Opinion consultancy deltapoll. Good to talk to you, thanks for joining us. Good night for liver my . Is good as they wouldve wanted it to be, do you think . I is good as they wouldve wanted it to be, do you think . To be, do you think . I would say it was definitely to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good for to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good for labour to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good for labour but | was definitely good for labour but perhaps was definitely good for labour but perhaps not as good as the most positive perhaps not as good as the most positive support is full of hope for. Similarly for the conservatives, it is clearly a very bad conservatives, it is clearly a very had set conservatives, it is clearly a very had set of conservatives, it is clearly a very bad set of results but not as bad as it perhaps bad set of results but not as bad as it perhaps could have been. Now we still do it perhaps could have been. Now we still do have some votes to still be counted. Still do have some votes to still be counted, but i think that if rishi sunak counted, but i think that if Rishi Sunak For counted, but i think that if Rishi Sunak For instance were to preside over a sunak for instance were to preside over a victory for andy street in the west over a victory for andy street in the West Midlands mayor election and the West Midlands mayor election and the perhaps in london susan hall get within the perhaps in london susan hall get within may the perhaps in london susan hall get within may be Single Digits of the mayor within may be Single Digits of the mayor there, they will probably be seen as mayor there, they will probably be seen as as mayor there, they will probably be seen as as good as they couldve expected seen as as good as they couldve expected under circumstances. Yes, they might expected under circumstances. Yes, they might lose 500 council seats, but given they might lose 500 council seats, but given their position in the polls but given their position in the polls nationally and notjust in the most polls nationally and notjust in the most recent ones but really over the last couple most recent ones but really over the last couple of years, i think thats probably last couple of years, i think thats probably the best that they can hope for. ~. , probably the best that they can hope for. , , probably the best that they can hope for. , for. What is this tell us about timinas for. What is this tell us about timings for for. What is this tell us about timings for a for. What is this tell us about Timings For A General for. What is this tell us about i timings for a General Election . For. What is this tell us about timings for a General Election . With the premise to be sitting at home and look at these results and pour over them and think i will have a General Election sooner or wait as long as i can . Aha, General Election sooner or wait as long as i can . Long as i can . A really interesting ruestion, long as i can . A really interesting question. And long as i can . A really interesting question, and we long as i can . A really interesting question, and we dont long as i can . A really interesting question, and we dont really long as i can . A really interesting l question, and we dont really know the answer~ question, and we dont really know the answer. It could be for instance that the the answer. It could be for instance that the backbench discord among the conservatives gets so strong that rishi conservatives gets so strong that rishi sunak believes he is not going to he rishi sunak believes he is not going to be able rishi sunak believes he is not going to be able to make it until the autumn to be able to make it until the autumn and that he has to call an election autumn and that he has to call an election now. 0r possibly face of the Vote Election now. 0r possibly face of the vote of No Confidence which could the vote of No Confidence which could damage the conservative party even further. I think thats not the most even further. I think thats not the most likely even further. I think thats not the most likely option but nor do i think most likely option but nor do i think we most likely option but nor do i think we can rule it out. Instead i think think we can rule it out. Instead i think the think we can rule it out. Instead i think the conservatives will be thinking think the conservatives will be thinking we have to hold a General Election thinking we have to hold a General Election at thinking we have to hold a General Election at some point between now and january of next year, and so what and january of next year, and so what is and january of next year, and so what is the and january of next year, and so what is the least worst time to hold that given what is the least worst time to hold that given our position in the polls and the that given our position in the polls and the direction in which those polls and the direction in which those polls are and the direction in which those polls are moving . So that points to my mind polls are moving . So that points to my mind to polls are moving . So that points to my mind to a late november or perhaps my mind to a late november or perhaps early december or perhaps even january of next year. Tell perhaps early december or perhaps even january of next year. Perhaps early december or perhaps even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the election even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the election in even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the election in london bit about the election in london for mayor as those walks this at the results not coming out until saturday or tomorrow evening. Why is london so keep the conservatives and labour . ,. , , labour . London firstly has historically labour . London firstly has historically been labour . London firstly has historically been a labour . London firstly has historically been a labour| labour . London firstly has i historically been a labour city labour . London firstly has historically been a labour city but in recent historically been a labour city but in recent elections has become increasingly popular among Labour Voters increasingly popular among Labour Voters. Thats important because there voters. Thats important because there are voters. Thats important because there are large numbers of mps up forgrahs there are large numbers of mps up forgrabs and indeed there are large numbers of mps up for grabs and indeed it may be the case that for grabs and indeed it may be the case that those few remaining conservative mps in the capital will look at conservative mps in the capital will look at the conservative mps in the capital will look at the london result for mayor and say look at the london result for mayor and say actually maybe my seat could be at and say actually maybe my seat could he at risk and say actually maybe my seat could be at risk. Alternatively, if susan hall, be at risk. Alternatively, if susan hail, the be at risk. Alternatively, if susan hall, the conservative candidate, over performance, we might see conservatives within the capital huoved conservatives within the capital buoyed by the success and think actually buoyed by the success and think actually maybe i have a chance. So ultimately actually maybe i have a chance. So ultimately its a big story, and local ultimately its a big story, and local elections are made up of a range local elections are made up of a range of local elections are made up of a range of small stories but also the bil range of small stories but also the big overall range of small stories but also the big overall story. And the mayor of london big overall story. And the mayor of london is big overall story. And the mayor of london is always one of those individual london is always one of those individual stories that attract a lot of individual stories that attract a lot of attention and provides a lot of momentum for the wedding party. 0k, of momentum for the wedding party. 0k. Good of momentum for the wedding party. 0k, good to talk to you as always, thank you very much indeed. If you want to read more about the election results, go to the bbc website with a full result of all the results from wherever you are. And also of course looking ahead to what the results mean for both the labour party and the conservative party and all other parties involved in the elections as well. Lets turn now to the israel gaza conflict, because turkey says it will halt trade with israel until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid have been secured for gaza. Trade between the two countries was worth around 7 billion last year. Heres the turkish president on that decision. Translation the whole i of the west works for israel. They all work for israel, in particular the united states. By mobilising all these resources, unfortunately the poor, impoverished, destitute people of palestine were condemned to death in the face of these israeli bombs. We could no longer stand it, and we took our steps. Israels foreign minister, israel katz, said the move breaks International Trade agreements and accused president erdogan of behaving like a dictator. So how do turkeys imports and exports compare with israels other top trade partners . The biggest by far is the united states, atjust over 26 billion. Next is china, at ia. 6 billion overall. Germany and israel did more than 8. 5 billion of trade last year, while india and israels Trade Wasjust over 7 billion. Here is Frank Gardner injerusalem on what is real�