The Liberal Democrats took control of Hull council – a former Labour stronghold – in 2007 The Liberal Democrat leader of Hull City Council has told a news conference that his party has lost control of the local authority to Labour.
Carl Minns also said he believed he had lost his seat, but this has not yet been confirmed.
He had earlier said he would be “gobsmacked” if Labour did not make significant gains in Hull.
The Lib Dems currently control Hull council, with 32 seats compared with Labour’s 23 seats.
BBC Yorkshire & Lincolnshire political editor Tim Iredale said he understood that of the 12 seats the Lib Dems were defending at this election, Labour had won 10.
Mr Minns said: “It is going to be a bad night. Labour are going to win enough seats for an overall majority.”
Labour’s Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson said: “There is a feeling around here that something seismic is happening in Hull, but let’s see the actual votes declared.
“It is quite extraordinary that Carl Minns said that when not a single vote has been counted.”
His comments came as vote counting continued at councils across East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.
All seats at North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire councils are up for grabs and a third of seats in Hull and North East Lincolnshire.
The Conservatives control East Riding, Labour controls North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire is Lib Dem-led.
The national alternative vote referendum has also taken place, the first nationwide referendum since 1975.
Counting will either take place Thursday night or on Friday with the count for the alternative vote system beginning on Friday afternoon.
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