UK Local Elections: Brexit deadlock creates backlash for major parties

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02:33

Now to the UK - As local election results continue to trickle in, political observers say they appear to suggest voters are angry at Britain's Brexit deadlock. Both the ruling Conservatives and the Labour opposition are losing control of town halls across the country. As Richard Bestic reports, Party leaders are getting the blame.

These elections were supposed to be about local issues. Such the all-pervading presence of Brexit, they've become a critical measure of general attitudes. Town Hall councilors, the foot soldiers of British politics, reporting hostilities on the doorstep.

LYNNE JONES, COUNCILLOR WINDSOR BOROUGH FIRST PARTY "There's a lot of anger out there. On the doorstep, you do have people saying they'll never vote again. That they've lost trust in politicians."

UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, here voting in her Home Counties constituency, anticipated a torrid time, worsened perhaps by finger wagging from her grassroots.

WAYNE FITZGERALD CONSERVATIVE DEPUTY LEADER PETERBOROUGH COUNCIL "Is Theresa May the solution? Many in my constituency, in my association, don't think she is."

Also losing votes, councilors and control over town halls, the Opposition Labour Party.

The consequence of a failed appeal to people on all sides of the Brexit argument.

JEREMY CORBYN UK OPPOSITION LABOUR LEADER "Some of them were people probably disagreeing with both Parties on attitudes towards the European Union."

RICHARD BESTIC LONDON "So where did the votes go, who benefited from the epic political fail of the two giants of British politics?"

Independent candidates picked up bucket loads.

While Liberal Democrats, normally on the peripheries, but openly calling for a second Brexit referendum, have their best result in 15 years.

There's no definitive way of knowing exactly what people voted for in these elections, but with eight-and-a-half thousand seats up for grabs, they are the significant barometer of Britain's public mood.

RICHARD BESTIC LONDON "And if the big beasts of the British political jungle find these results difficult to swallow, just wait until the European Parliamentary elections at the end of May - elections coming three years after Britain voted to leave the EU and that were never meant to take place. RB, CGTN, London."