Rishi Sunak warned of a potential hung parliament as he called on Conservative MPs to unite and confront Labour.
Speaking for the first time since the party's significant losses in the local elections, the prime minister acknowledged the disappointment felt within the Conservative ranks. However, Sunak highlighted a projection by elections expert Michael Thrasher, suggesting that if the local election results were mirrored in a general election, Labour would not secure enough seats for a majority.
While conceding the possibility of the Tories losing their majority, he emphasised that voters wouldn't support Labour being propped up by smaller parties in Downing Street. He reaffirmed the Conservative Party's commitment to delivering a plan for the country, despite earlier criticism from Suella Braverman urging a change in direction.
Electoral setbacks for the Conservatives
Amidst the loss of nearly 500 council seats and the narrow defeat in the West Midlands mayoral race, where Andy Street was edged out by just 1,508 votes to Labour's Richard Parker, Sunak acknowledged the challenging circumstances. Now, the prime minister faces the daunting task of revitalising his beleaguered party as a general election looms on the horizon.
The West Midlands defeat, confirmed only after a tense recount, capped off a disappointing series of outcomes for the Conservatives, with Ben Houchen's victory in Tees Valley being their sole success out of 11 mayoral contests across England. In addition to losing control of 10 councils, the Tories also faltered in local authority elections, shedding more than 470 councillors. Their failure to retain the parliamentary seat in Blackpool South further underscored the extent of their setback, nearly slipping to third place behind Reform UK.
Despite these setbacks, murmurs of discontent among Conservative MPs about ousting Sunak as party leader have faded. In a piece for the Sunday Telegraph, former Home Secretary and Sunak critic Suella Braverman emphasised the need to support the current leadership. Sunak, while expressing disappointment over Street's loss and the dedicated councillors, reaffirmed his commitment to the party's agenda, aiming to bolster national security, economic growth, and opportunity for all citizens.
Labour’s triumphs in regional mayoral contests
Sir Keir Starmer has compounded the Tories' election woes with a series of Labour triumphs in regional mayor contests. Addressing supporters in Birmingham, the Labour leader hailed their victories, citing a remarkable swing in Blackpool and the unexpected success in the West Midlands, where Richard Parker secured the mayoral seat.
He emphasised voters' dissatisfaction with the status quo, urging Rishi Sunak to call a general election. Labour dominated in 10 out of 11 mayoral races across various regions and Sadiq Khan’s victory was the cherry on the cake.
Despite concerns over a low voter turnout of 40.5%, Khan of the Labour Party secured a historic third term as London's Mayor. He emerged victorious with a 43.8% vote share while his main opponent, Susan Hall of the Conservative Party, trailed behind with 32.7% of the vote. Khan secured victories in nine out of 14 constituencies and garnered a vote margin exceeding 276,000.
Khan's re-election as London mayor defies the assumption of Muslim voters' disaffection from Labour over its Gaza stance. Despite initial worries, Khan maintained strong backing from Muslim constituents, evident in his 11% victory margin.
However, amidst these victories, Labour still faces concerns over Muslim backlash due to its Gaza stance. In certain council wards where Muslim residents form a significant portion of the population, Labour's vote share saw a decline compared to the previous election. While the impact on a general election remains uncertain, Sir Keir acknowledged the need to address and alleviate these concerns.
Despite this setback, Labour's overall performance was positive, gaining 185 councillors and securing control of eight councils.
Smaller parties shine, break records
Aside from Labour's victories, smaller opposition parties also saw success. The Liberal Democrats are particularly celebrating their gains, securing more than 100 councillors and taking control of councils in Dorset and Tunbridge Wells. However, they fell short of securing a majority in their target areas of West Oxfordshire and Wokingham.
Sir Ed Davey, the party leader, emphasised the Liberal Democrats' strength, noting that Conservative MPs nationwide should be wary as the Liberal Democrats have won more seats in this election.
The Green Party also celebrated a "record-breaking campaign," winning a total of 181 council seats, an increase of over 70 from previous elections. Reform UK performed strongly in the Blackpool South by-election, trailing just 117 votes behind the Conservatives.
Meanwhile, George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain secured four council seats, including one in Manchester where they unseated Labour's deputy council leader Luthfur Rahman. Additionally, the Women's Equality Party secured its first council seat with Stacy Hart's election to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
