Starmer hails Blackpool South win as result points to big Labour victory at general election

Pollsters say early results suggest Tories could lose half of council seats contested, putting party on course for as many as 500 losses

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Keir Starmer has hailed Labour's seismic" win in Blackpool South in a night of local elections that provided further evidence that the party is heading for a large majority at this year's general election.

The Labour leader called the result in the Blackpool South byelection truly historic" after the party's candidate, Chris Webb, won the seat with the third biggest swing from the Conservatives to Labour in postwar history.