Counting is underway at Alexandra Palace, where the results of three Enfield by-elections in Chase, Southbury and Jubilee wards will be announced later today.

Labour put in a strong showing at the last local elections in 2018 under Cllr Doug Taylor’s leadership, increasing its majority on the council to 29 after taking seats from the Tories in Chase, Southgate and Winchmore Hill.

But the group has been hit by a string of defections under new leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan, with five councillors joining breakaway opposition group Community First due to dissatisfaction with the administration.

The resignations of two Labour councillors, Vicki Pite and Bernadette Lappage, triggered by-elections in Chase and Jubilee wards.

Cllr Caliskan has said her administration has protected adults’ and children’s social care from Government funding cuts, made progress on the Meridian Water regeneration scheme and launched a strategy to tackle climate change and pollution.

But policies such as low-traffic neighbourhoods have divided opinion, while the Tories have attacked Labour over issues such as a £1 billion debt pile and the shift to fortnightly bin collections.

The Tories will have their sights on Chase ward, where their top candidate came just 60 votes short of winning a seat in 2018.

A major issue in Chase is the future of Whitewebbs Golf Course, which the council wants to lease out to a commercial partner. It has faced intense criticism over the move and subsequent closure of the course, despite claiming it had been losing money for years.

Labour won big majorities in Southbury and Jubilee in 2018 – but with the Conservatives performing well in local elections across the country, Enfield’s Tories will be hoping to cause an upset.

We will keep you updated on the latest developments, with the results expected to be announced between 2pm and 4pm.