10:45AM: Labour canvassers were out celebrating last night after a final race to the finish. If you look closely, you can see Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry with her team, as well as Cllr Praful Nargund.

Mr Nargund unsuccessfully ran as the Labour candidate against Jeremy Corbyn two years ago. He is still a councillor for Barnsbury (for another few hours), a fact you would be forgiven for forgetting as he has been rather MIA from the Town Hall, as well as the pages of the Tribune.

We’re not sure how many steps Mr Nargund racked up this election, but other campaigners today are pointing to their pedometers as evidence that they have put in the hard graft. They’ve been telling our reporters that there’s nothing more they could have some.

After a night of tough losses for Labour nationally, in Islington candidates are already urging us to consider any result in to context of what’s going on in the government. Slim losses here are likely to be seen as a victory, and worthy of another pint or two.

Isabel Loubser

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10:15AM: Welcome to our election live blog for the Islington Council election. Voters went to the ballot box yesterday to decide the fate of the Town Hall over the next four years.

We have just arrived at the Islington Tennis Centre in Market Road, where verification is getting underway. The actual counting of votes isn’t expected to kick off until midday, and results should start being announced several hours later.

Greens are looking to make significant gains in areas like Tufnell Park, Arsenal, and Clerkenwell, so we’ll be keeping at eye on those.

Labour currently hold 44 seats in the Town Hall, and are therefore defending a huge majority alongside accusations of a one-party state.

Candidates have arrived with their agents, and are closely monitoring the ballots. To keep you entertained, his a photo of independent candidate for Bunhill Phil Graham arriving to the count on his iconic vintage scooter.

This has become a defining part of his look, and he’ll hope that he’ll get to keep riding around the south of the borough if he retains his seat. He was last elected as a Labour councillor, but defected from the party two years ago in protest against the government’s stance on a whole range of issues including Gaza.

Isabel Loubser