Markus Andrews

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailSupport for the Conservatives is now lower than it was under failed prime minister Liz Truss, despite Rishi Sunak’s hopes of the “greatest comeback in political history”. Despite a flurry of government announcements in recent days, on everything from Rwanda flights to defence spending and welfare, a new poll has the party on just 18 per cent. The YouGov survey, completed on Wednesday, puts Labour on 44 per cent, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on 15 per cent and the Lib Dems on 10 per cent, with the Greens at 8 per cent and the SNP 2 per cent. The polling firm said the result meant that the Tory share of the vote was now “lower than under Liz Truss”, when it sank to 19 per cent. The party is also only three points ahead of Reform, which will heighten Tory fears the party could take enough votes to hand seats to Labour. When Mr Sunak replaced her as prime minister, the move was designed to steady the ship and improve his party’s fortunes. But the latest poll will add to his woes, after what has been widely seen as one of Mr Sunak’s best weeks in No 10, as voters go to the polls in local and metro mayor elections, the results of which could decide his premiership. Failure to hold mayoralties in Tees Valley and West Midlands are expected to bolster rebel Tory moves to try to oust him from office. On Monday he urged Conservative Party faithful to take part in “the greatest comeback in political history” in the elections, an admission of the uphill battle he faces. Rishi Sunak More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailVoters head to the polls today in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion ahead of this year’s looming general election. Most of the 2,636 seats up for re-election were last contested in 2021, at the peak of Boris Johnson’s popularity as the Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out.Voters will be choosing the mayor of London, members of the London assembly, police and crime commissioners across England and Wales, and electing 10 other mayors in places outside the capital.As I outlined here, the Conservative Party is likely to see a significant drop in the number of seats they hold on councils. However, all eyes are turning towards a handful of important mayoral races, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak might find some comfort.The main event is undoubtedly Sadiq Khan’s attempt to win an unprecedented third term as mayor of London. While the outcome seems certain, the focus will be on how much his victory margin falls short of what Labour had hoped for.If you have a question on the local elections or, once they come in, the results, submit it now, or when I join you live at 1pm on Friday 3 May for the “Ask Me Anything” event.Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article.Scroll down or click here to leave your comment.If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Don’t worry if you can’t see your question – they may be hidden until I join the conversation to answer them. Then join us live on this page at 1pm as I tackle as many questions as I can. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailJohn Swinney has announced his intention to stand for election as leader of the Scottish National Party.Announcing his candidacy during a press conference, the MSP and former Deputy First Minister of Scotland said: “ I intend to stand for election as leader of the Scottish National Party. “I want to build on the work of the SNP government to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland. That will ensure opportunity for all of our citizens.He added: “I want to unite the SNP, and unite Scotland for independence.”Mr Swinney also said he wants fellow leadership frontrunner Kate Forbes to be part of his new government team, describing her as an “intelligent, creative person who has much to contribute”.Mr Swinney’s announcement follows the resignation of former leader Humza Yousaf earlier in the week, who stepped aside following a decision to collapse a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.The once-dominant nationalist party is now undergoing a process to appoint a new leader.John Swinney has announced he will run to become the next SNP leader and first minister More

Current Mayor of London and Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan arrived with his wife Saadiya Khan and their dog to cast his vote at the local elections on Thursday (2 May).Mr Khan arrived early at the polling station at St Alban’s Church in south London, as he also cast his vote in the London Mayoral election.Voters head to the polls today in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak goes to the country later this year.A total of 11 mayoral contests are also taking place, including for the London mayoralty between frontrunners, Labour incumbent Mr Khan and Tory challenger Susan Hall. More

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrived at a polling station to cast their votes in the local and London Mayoral elections today.Voters head to the polls on Thursday (2 May) in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak goes to the country later this year.A total of 11 mayoral contests are also taking place, including for the London mayoralty between frontrunners, Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan and Tory challenger Susan Hall.Sir Keir arrived to vote in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency early on Thursday. More

Conservative London Mayor candidate Susan Hall arrived early to cast her vote in the local elections on Thursday (2 May).Ms Hall. dressed in a purple jacket, arrived at Hatch End Lawn Tennis Club to cast her vote earlier today.Voters head to the polls on Thursday in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak goes to the country later this year.A total of 11 mayoral contests are also taking place, including for the London mayoralty between frontrunners, Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan and Tory challenger Ms Hall. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA Tory MP has begged local members in his constituency for help after he was caught short without voter ID ahead of local elections. Tom Hunt, MP for Ipswich asked local members to act as his “emergency proxy” after he found that he had no appropriate ID to vote in the local council elections.In a screenshot of a Whatsapp conversation, published by ITV political correspondent Harry Horton, Mr Hunt is seen asking for help from members following a “bit of drama”, adding: “Turns out I have no appropriate ID to vote tomorrow”.He is then seen asking for help from Tory members: “However. There is an emergency proxy option if you lose your ID. Deadline tomorrow. Who would like to do the honours?”Mr Hunt is the first MP to publicly fall foul of new controversial Voter ID rules which means people must provide a valid form of ID in order to cast their vote at the ballot box.The Electoral Commission warned that the new regulations could make it harder for people to vote, while London mayor Sadiq Khan warned the introduction of ID requirements is “designed to rig the next election” by stopping younger and historically marginalised people from voting.Research has found that groups most likely to be affected by the new voter ID rules are more likely to back Labour.Now, the screengrab shows the outspoken Tory MP is one of many likely to be affected by the new constrictions and has needed to resort to an emergency proxy to cast his vote. In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can’t vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy. Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.Tom Hunt, Conservative MP for Ipswich, has found himself without valid ID ahead of local elections More

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has joked that he and his son tricked Declan Rice into signing for Arsenal.Starmer is a season ticket holder at the Emirates Stadium and regularly attends away fixtures. Midfielder Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham last summer in a deal worth £105m in a significant transfer coup for the club, and has helped drive Mikel Arteta’s side in their chase for the Premier League title this season.Recalling meeting the England international with his son while Rice was still a West Ham player, a jesting Starmer has claimed to have conned the 25-year-old into signing a contract.“So, when we played away at West Ham last year and Declan was still a West Ham player I took my son,” the Labour leader told The Telegraph.“Mark Noble, Mr West Ham [now the club’s sporting director], took us down to meet Declan. And so my boy had his programme open ready for signing and obviously we put the contract [for Arsenal] in underneath! Declan signed it and thought he was signing the programme, but actually he was signing for Arsenal!”Declan Rice has propelled Arsenal’s title push this season More