UK PM May avoids capital wipeout in local elections

LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party avoided a wipeout in London local elections and eked out gains in Brexit-supporting regions elsewhere in England, partial results on Friday showed, denting the opposition Labour Party's hopes of a big win.

The elections are viewed as a gauge of public support for May as she faces a possible revolt in parliament over her strategy for leaving the European Union.

Results showed May was likely to avoid the kind of widespread losses that would dramatically weaken her authority over Conservative lawmakers ahead of key tests of her plans to take Britain out of the EU customs union as it quits the EU.