The local elections for this year have proved to be torrid for the Conservative party as Labour have made hundreds of crucial gains in key election battlegrounds.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered the indignity of seeing of seeing a Labour mayor win in his own constituency.
Labour’s David Skaith became the inaugural elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire this afternoon, a new position that covers the Prime Minister’s Richmond constituency.
It was one of the final blows in a day of reverses for the ruling party, including in many areas the Tories need to win to have any chance in the general election later this year.
Sir Keir Starmer hailed a ‘seismic win’ for Labour in the Blackpool South by-election, where the party secured a 26.33% swing, as well as council gains in key areas like Hartlepool.
The Prime Minister is braced for further pain as more results trickle in over the weekend which could increase pressure on his leadership of the Conservative Party and the country.
Elections expert Professor Sir John Curtice said the Tories could be on course to lose 500 councillors in ‘one of the worst, if not the worst’ performances by the party in 40 years.
To see which parties won in your area, follow our interactive map below to reveal all the changes in England’s political makeup.
A look at England’s local election results, which have proved to be torrid for the Conservatives
The Tories have lost in several key areas which they will need to win to have any chance in the general election later this year