France, May 8 -- Thursday's elections for 136 local councils in England, alongside those to elect devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales, are the most significant ‌test of public opinion in the United Kingdom before the next general election due in 2029.

Most of the results from England - as well as all the seats in the Scottish and Welsh elections - are due to be ​declared later on Friday.

Partial results from England show Labour lost 247 seats, including in some traditional strongholds in former industrial regions in central and northern parts of the country, along with some parts of London.

The main beneficiary was the right-wing, anti-immigration Reform party of Brexit campaigner Nigel ‌Farage, which gained 33...