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Rishi Sunak appeared to be optimistic despite the Conservatives suffering defeats across the country in Friday’s (3 May) local election results.Experts have warned the Tories could lose 500 seats in what could be their worst numbers in 40 years.Mr Sunak acknowledged defeats but was keen to highlight the fact his party had clung on in Harlow – though the party’s majority was cut from nine to a single seat there.“[Sir] Keir Starmer held a rally just on Wednesday saying [Harlow] was a place that he had to win to be on track to win a general election.“That hasn’t happened.” More

A Tory MP branded two BBC presenters “pathetic” as they clashed when discussing Ben Houchen’s re-election as Teeside mayor.Andrea Leadsom appeared to take offense after journalist Jo Cobrun pointed out Mr Houchen’s vote was down and that he never mentioned the Tories or Rishi Sunak on his election posters, when she appeared on Politics Live on Friday (3 May).Ms Leadsom said: “That whole discussion is absolutely pathetic from the BBC. That is pathetic. He has won and it is all credit to a mayor who has done a brilliant job.” More

Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis was mocked by Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth as Tory councillors lost seats across the country in the local elections.Mr Ashworth goaded the Tory deputy chairman during the BBC’s local election results programme in the early hours of Friday morning (3 May).After seeing that the Tory police and crime commissioner in Lincolnshire had managed to hang on, despite a 16 per cent swing to Labour, Mr Ashworth said: “That’s quite a swing, isn’t it?”Turning to Mr Gullis, he said: “You’d be toast if there was a 16% swing to Labour, wouldn’t you?”Mr Gullis replied: “I’m laughing because Jonathan wants me to go. I don’t fear anything in Stoke-on-Trent North.” More

A Conservative councillor hailed what he said was an “incredible” victory as the party’s Harlow Council majority was cut from nine to a single seat in Thursday’s (2 May) local elections.Dan Swords said: “It’s no secret the Conservative Party’s in a difficult place at the moment, but here in Harlow we’ve bucked that trend.”The Tories retained control of Harlow Council by winning 17 seats to Labour’s 16, with a turnout of just over 28 per cent.It comes as Britain’s top polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice said the election “could be one of the worst, if not the worst, Conservative performances in local government elections of the last forty years.” More

A Conservative MP has called for the party to find a role for Boris Johnson as the Tories are braced for their worst election result in 40 years.Andrea Jenkyns appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday (3 May), after Britain’s top polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said the election “could be one of the worst, if not the worst, Conservative performances in local government elections of the last forty years.When asked if the Conservatives should replace current prime minister Rishi Sunak, Ms Jenkyns said: “I don’t think we should have got rid of Boris in the first place.“I think we need to find a role for Boris as well. Ultimately we need common sense policies, people are sick of this wokeist agenda.” More

Tory chairman Richard Holden was asked if it is time to “get out the brandy and a loaded revolver’” as his party is set for a “catastrophic” election loss.Britain’s top polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said the election “could be one of the worst, if not the worst, Conservative performances in local government elections of the last forty years.Appearing on LBC on Friday (3 May), presenter Nick Ferrari asked Mr Holden if now is the time to “get out the brandy and a loaded revolver”.Mr Holden laughed and replied: “Certainly not, no.” More

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed Labour’s “incredible” victory in the Blackpool South local election.Visiting Blackpool on Friday (3 May), following Labour’s win, Sir Keir said victory in Blackpool South was “truly historic” and the “most important result” nationally.Meanwhile, Britain’s top polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said the election “could be one of the worst, if not the worst, Conservative performances in local government elections of the last forty years.Asked if the results were “catastrophic” for the Tories, Sir John said: “Not far from it”. More

This is the moment Labour was announced victorious in the Blackpool South parliamentary by-election on Friday (3 May).In the contest triggered by the resignation of former Tory MP Scott Benton following a lobbying scandal, Labour’s Chris Webb secured 10,825 votes, a majority of 7,607.Tory David Jones came in second with 3,218 votes, just 117 ahead of Reform UK’s Mark Butcher.Mr Webb said: “People no longer trust the Conservatives. Prime Minister: do the decent thing, admit you’ve failed and call a general election.”The 26.33 percent swing was the third biggest from the Conservatives to Labour at a by-election since the Second World War. More