with Anthony Howard including at 10.15*
Countdown to the County Halls
The Polls have closed in the elections for the 54 county councils in England and Wales.
Tonight's results determine who will be spending our rates money and represent the first real test of public opinion since the present Government took office. Brian Redhead brings the first results from all over the country, and from London, where voters have been deciding the fate of the GLC, the largest authority in Europe.
With him in the Local
Elections Studio, Anthony King , Professor of Government at Essex
University, and Robert Carvel , Political Editor of the New Standard, examine the implications for all concerned.
0 For the Government, The Rt Hon Tom King , mp. Minister of State for Local Government, gives his response to the results.
0 For the Labour Party, confronting the country with a new leader and without the Social
Democrats. The Rt lion Gerald Kaufman , mp, gives their view. and The Rt Hon Shirley Williams speaks for the SDP. 0 For the Liberals, bidding to take votes from the major parties, David Alton , mp, comments.
0 For the local politicians, including Horace Cutler , Conservative leader of the GLC, and Andrew McIntosh. his Labour opponent, who talk about how they've fared in the battle for Britain's town halls.