Local elections: Labour captures key target of Plymouth city council

Result comes in battleground regarded as crucial to party’s hopes in a future Westminster contest

Labour has taken control of Plymouth council from the Conservatives in the England local elections – securing a key target in a battleground regarded as crucial to the party’s hopes in a future Westminster contest.

The party needed five gains to take overall control of the council, which had been led by a minority Conservative administration, and managed to make six gains on the night.