They use this Phrase Country first, party second. Keir starmers argument is he has to behave as he sees a british Prime Minister should and hes taking the stance that he would as Prime Minister. But there is no doubt there is evidence to suggest that that has been difficult for labour in some places, particularly those with a significant muslim population. Theres a prominent independent candidate, as you say, here in this contest, who has had a particular view on the conflict and the uk governments outlook on the conflict. And its a point of difference with the labour party. Now the question is, speaking to labour folk here, to what extent are they former labour voters going in the direction of an independent or people who might be motivated to vote for the independents who would have not backed labour otherwise . We shall see. The other factor here that is acknowledged by labour is that the local authority, the council here in birmingham, not the whole region by a long chalk, but the council here in birmingham, labour run, has basically run out of money, has had to hike up council tax through the ceiling and cut services at the same time. Surprise, surprise, a combination of those two things is not popular. I , 50. , so, as we wait for the result in birmingham, we do have the result in this the birmingham, we do have the result in thi , this the solihull count in this ma oral this the solihull count in this mayoral race. This the solihull count in this mayoral race. It this the solihull count in this mayoral race. It is this the solihull count in this mayoral race. It is a this the solihull count in this l mayoral race. It is a traditional conservative stronghold, the first of those seven Council Areas to declare its result in this West Midlands mayoral race. Andy street pulled well ahead of Richard Parker from the labour party, but significantly there was a bit of a swing, a 5 swing towards labour. Some people are talking about her andy street, although he is way ahead on that particular result, has actually dropped his percentage share by about 5 , which labour has picked up. Overall, in solihull, andy street picking up Something Like 62. I andy street picking up Something Like 62. 1 of vote there, Richard Parker getting 20. 6 , so a 5. 35 towards labour. But i think all of this suggests that this is going to be an incredibly close race here. More analysis is coming from my colleague, rob meier, the midlands political editor, which is evidence that this race is incredibly close. Five of the seven of the authorities are doing bundle checks, essentially are doing bundle checks, essentially a soft check before you decide whether or not you want to go into a recount. That is crucial. It really does show if we are potentially looking at these checks which could then be a sign that they might be, i will exert caution here, there might be a recount. Itjust gives you an idea of how incredibly close this result could be. Studio absolutely. Maybe that is one reason for the delay that we are seeing. We thought this was potentially coming by now, but we will keep waiting, and let us know anything else that you hear. Rajini and the team in birmingham. Lets cross over to nick, who has more data for us. We have had the results from solihull, but what is your take on what is happening in the West Midlands . What we read on to the numbers we have . Could be recounts . Ive not got a graphic, im afraid to say. Im sorry, i could try and draw you one we to say. Im sorry, i could try and draw you one to say. Im sorry, i could try and draw you one to say. Im sorry, i could try and draw ou one ~. ,. ,. ,. ,. , draw you one we are going to wait a while for the draw you one we are going to wait a while for the west draw you one we are going to wait a while for the West Midlands draw you one we are going to wait a while for the West Midlands to draw you one we are going to wait a while for the West Midlands to know| while for the West Midlands to know whats on, but as rajini was just saying, there was a swing in solihull from the conservatives to labour for 5 . Solihull from the conservatives to labourfor5 . Labour solihull from the conservatives to labour for 5 . Labour need a swing of 4. 5 across the West Midlands to beat andy street, so it suggest there is going to be an absolute knife edge. Ive been chatting some people in the labour party who are just saying we are not sure who is going to win, it is too close to call. We are going to keep watching that one, and as soon as i have any graphics from the West Midlands, i promise to tell you. What i do have are some results to talk you through. First, Greater Manchester. Andy burnham, look at the majority there. It wasnt close. 351,000 majority for andy burnham there. Interestingly, his vote is down a bit. It is down just, interestingly, his vote is down a bit. It is downjust, down interestingly, his vote is down a bit. It is down just, down ir . Interestingly, his vote is down a bit. It is downjust, down ir . The conservative vote is down by more. The independent voters up, again may be a suggestion that there is a small effect in Greater Manchester given labours policy on gas. We know that Oldham Council in Greater Manchester so a lot of independent selected. There is the swing, conservative to labour in Greater Manchester, 2. 5 2. 7 . Similar in west yorkshire, tracy brabin, the former mp has been re elected in west yorkshire. You might remember, she used to be on coronation street. That is her other claim to fame, apart from being a politician. She has one bio hundred 92,000 votes. Her vote went up 7 . The conservative vote down 14 . A big swing, despite the fact that she won pretty comfortably last time in 2021 in the first election. She got another swing today of 11 from the conservatives to labour. Let me just bring you up to date on the latest we have had from london as well, which paints into the picture of why the bbc is forecasting that labour are going to win. Despite the fact that susan hall has won ealing and hillingdon by about 2000 votes, her vote is down by 1 . Labours vote is up vote is down by 1 . Labours vote is up by 1 . Not enough for sadiq khan to win that area, but enough for a small conservative to labour swing. Not as much as we have seen inevitably in other areas, but the fact this is happening is a big deal. Just as we are talking, another one for you. City and east has just come another one for you. City and east hasjust come in. Labour were another one for you. City and east has just come in. Labour were always going to win here. There is the result, a huge majority for sadiq khan, 56 of the vote. Again, labour up, conservative down. That is why sadiq khan is going to win london. Nick, thank you very much. Sorry about the right format microphone. Just go and check your wires lets speak to paul scully a conservative mp for Sutton And Cheam and former ministerfor london. He also ran to be the partys candidate for mayor this year. Thank you forjoining us. We are waiting for the official result for london, but the bbc and Sirjohn Curtis Have called it for labour. What is your reaction . It curtis have called it for labour. What is your reaction . Curtis have called it for labour. What is your reaction . It looks like it. There what is your reaction . It looks like it there was what is your reaction . It looks like it. There was some what is your reaction . It looks like it. There was some excitement it. There was some excitement yesterday afternoon when some conservatives were saying we were running him close and the labour party were panicking a bit, but it is borne out with what we have seen in the polls in the lead up to it. Frankly, we have won an incredibly underwhelming campaign over the last year, we havent articulated any sense of vision, it is alljust been what we are seeing as an anti sadiq khan campaign. The election result, which is actually why he is only in inverted commas winning by 10 , when his party is Something Like 30 ahead. We havent done enough to paint a good picture, and that is what we have to stripped back and arm, but clearly we are giving him a third term when he is still failing london. It is disrespectful for londoners, for me, that we have not been able to give them a great choice. ,. ,. ,~ been able to give them a great choice. ,. ,. , a , choice. Some people might ask gently if this is so great choice. Some people might ask gently if this is so great is choice. Some people might ask gently if this is so great is because choice. Some people might ask gently if this is so great is because you if this is so great is because you ran to be the partys candidate and didnt make it . Be, it was all about having a Job Description of what you want as a candidate. I having a Job Description of what you want as a candidate. Want as a candidate. I was clearly, in my view. Want as a candidate. I was clearly, in my view. The want as a candidate. I was clearly, in my view, the best want as a candidate. I was clearly, in my view, the best person want as a candidate. I was clearly, in my view, the best person for. Want as a candidate. I was clearly, | in my view, the best person for the job. Even if it wasnt me, what are we trying to look for. We can tackle transport and crime, the main points in london to paint a positive vision, and to give 9 million londoners are very positive choice, rather than just going for an anti sadiq khan, Throwing Rotten Fruit alongside other people who are not satisfied with sadiq khans choice. Given that there is a swing towards labour, which would reflect the national position, do you think any candidate could have beaten him, and who could have beaten him . I candidate could have beaten him, and who could have beaten him . Who could have beaten him . I think we could have who could have beaten him . I think we could have run who could have beaten him . I think we could have run a who could have beaten him . I think we could have run a lot who could have beaten him . I think we could have run a lot closer. Who could have beaten him . I think we could have run a lot closer. At i we could have run a lot closer. At the moment, there is only so far you can go in terms of wagging a finger, joining people wagging a finger saying, i dont like that guy. You actually have to say what are you going to look for. If you look at ben houchen and what he is doing in these, he is delivering, he is have a positive vision, and the fact that andy street, youre right, he is right on a knife edge, the fact he isnt there, why . Because he is doing different things, sitting alongside delivering for his local people. That is what you need, that positive vision. I people. That is what you need, that positive vision. Positive vision. I think you are not auoin to positive vision. I think you are not going to run positive vision. I think you are not going to run next positive vision. I think you are not going to run next time, positive vision. I think you are not going to run next time, is positive vision. I think you are not going to run next time, is that. Going to run next time, is that right . I going to run next time, is that riuht . ,. ,. , right . I will be running on a aeneral right . I will be running on a General Election. Right . I will be running on a General Election. Is right . I will be running on a General Election. Is that right . I will be running on a General Election. Is that because our seat General Election. Is that because your seat is General Election. Is that because your seat is tight . General election. Is that because your seat is tight . It General Election. Is that because your seat is tight . It has General Election. Is that because your seat is tight . It has never l your seat is tight . It has never been about your seat is tight . It has never been about my your seat is tight . It has never been about my seat. Your seat is tight . It has never been about my seat. I your seat is tight . It has never been about my seat. I would. Your seat is tight . It has never been about my seat. I would always back myself to win, i have always treated it as a marginal, it is more about the five years. I didnt want to retire as an mp, shuffling around in my 805 and saying i will not be part of the long Term Solution in parliament helping the party to change and take a step back and take a breath and show a bit of humility, which is what they need to do at this point. Which is what they need to do at this oint. ~. , which is what they need to do at this point which is what they need to do at this oint. ~. ,. ,. , this point. What is the mood amongst our this point. What is the mood amongst your colleagues. This point. What is the mood amongst your colleagues, would this point. What is the mood amongst your colleagues, would you this point. What is the mood amongst your colleagues, would you say, your colleagues, would you say, today . It is one thing looking at the polls with labour ahead for the last year and a half, but it is another thing when you actually see people casting a vote. What are your colleagues saying to you . Colleagues saying to you . Weve heard a lot colleagues saying to you . Weve heard a lot of colleagues saying to you . Weve heard a lot of chatter colleagues saying to you . Weve heard a lot of chatter on colleagues saying to you . Weve heard a lot of chatter on a colleagues saying to you . Weve heard a lot of chatter on a whatsapp group, but we are all at home and our constituencies around the country, so ive had limited engagement full stop we will have more of a conversation next week. I used to be a local councillor, and i know what it is like when you see some of the stuff going up in westminster, and youve locally suffer as a result of that. There is nothing more frustrating when it is out of your hands when you are just delivering for local people. As i say, i think next week when we get back together, they should be no talk about what happens to the Prime Minister, that is ridiculous. That isju5t minister, that is ridiculous. That is just bonkers if we stop trying to roll the dice are something else. As i say, weve got to take a step back, we have got to stop just worrying about crisis management. That should be meat and drink for government. What we need to do is articulate a positive vision. Why are we doing this . It is not about winning an election for an elections sake. Why are we doing thejob in the elections sake. Why are we doing the job in the first place . To elections sake. Why are we doing thejob in the first place . To make things better, to bring our conservative principles, opportunity, lower tax, trusting people with their own money, and having the economy continued to recover. We got to tell people is positive stories. It recover. We got to tell people is positive stories. Recover. We got to tell people is positive stories. If rishi sunak is leadin positive stories. If rishi sunak is leading you positive stories. If rishi sunak is leading you to positive stories. If rishi sunak is leading you to near positive stories. If rishi sunak is leading you to near certain positive stories. If rishi sunak is l leading you to near certain defeat, whats the point of sticking with them . Wouldnt they be better having another role of the dice and trying someone who perhaps understands politics with a small pea more instinctively . Politics with a small pea more instinctivel . , ~ , instinctively . You cant ust Keep Chanauin Instinctively . You cant ust keep changing leaders instinctively . You cant ust keep changing leaders like instinctively . You cantjust keep changing leaders like suits instinctively . You cantjust keep changing leaders like suits or changing leaders like suits or clothes. It is changing the approach, that is what we have got to be doing. At the moment, we are dying on a hill because we are arguing amongst ourselves. It is not arguing amongst ourselves. It is not a unified party, it is a party that is impossible to lead at the moment. That is what we have got to get right, ratherthanjust that is what we have got to get right, rather than just changing the personnel at the top. I right, rather than just changing the personnel at the top. Right, rather than just changing the personnel at the top. I know you are bowin personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out. Personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out. But personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out, but to personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out, but to do personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out, but to do you personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out, but to do you think personnel at the top. I know you are bowing out, but to do you think will| bowing out, but to do you think will potentially run if the conservatives are defeated . Where do you think the Conservative Party goes in the eventuality of defeat . I Conservative Party goes in the eventuality of defeat . Conservative party goes in the eventuality of defeat . I dont know about, obviously, eventuality of defeat . I dont know about, obviously, he eventuality of defeat . I dont know about, obviously, he was eventuality of defeat . I dont know about, obviously, he was there eventuality of defeat . I dont know. About, obviously, he was there after the election of what their pitch is, but i will say whoever needs to take over needs to be a leader, as i say, of a difficult party at the moment to manage, someone who can lead the party and a strong way to take it back, ratherthan party and a strong way to take it back, rather than doing this ideological shift. That is what worries me. I