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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

Penny Mordaunt has dispelled rumours of a leadership bid and pledged to stand by prime minister Rishi Sunak following local elections.During Business Questions in the House of Commons on Thursday 2 May, Ms Mordaunt also said she thinks something will “crop up” before a general election to turn the tide of public opinion in favour of the Conservatives.She has been one of several senior Tories at the focus of party leadership rumours, compounded this week by reports of a plot to oust Mr Sunak. 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