Tories Slammed: Lose 48 Councils and 1,000+ Seats in Devastating Blow
The Tory party has suffered a crushing defeat, losing 48 councils and over 1,000 councillors — worse than even their gloomiest predictions. For the first time since 2002, Labour has surged ahead to become the largest party in local government. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are celebrating their “best result in decades,” snatching control of 12 councils, mostly from traditional Conservative strongholds.
Rishi Sunak Faces Harsh Reality in First Big Electoral Test
The elections across 230 English councils were seen as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s first major test of popularity since taking the Tory helm last October. Despite the heavy losses, Sunak called the outcome “disappointing” but insisted he didn’t see “a massive groundswell of movement towards Labour.”
Keir Starmer Claims Momentum: “Labour’s on Course for a Majority”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wasn’t shy about claiming victory, labeling the results “fantastic.” Speaking to supporters in Medway, Kent, he declared, “Make no mistake, we are on course for a Labour majority at the next general election.”
Labour dominated key battleground councils like Medway, Swindon, Plymouth, Stoke-on-Trent, and East Staffordshire. The BBC’s projected vote share put Labour at 35%, Conservatives trailing at 26%, and the Lib Dems on 20%.
Experts Weigh In: Tories Face “Calamitous” Setback
Polling guru Sir John Curtice described the Tory losses as “only a little short of calamitous.” But BBC political editor Chris Mason warned the results show that neither the Tories nor Labour can be confident about claiming a majority next year.
Despite the drubbing, Tory insiders show no signs of moving against Sunak — mindful of the chaos that ousted Boris Johnson and Liz Truss last year. Still, anger simmers among ousted councillors and critics within the party.
Economic Crisis to Blame for Tory Collapse
The elections unfolded against a grim economic backdrop, with soaring inflation sparking the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. A source loyal to both Johnson and Truss told the BBC Sunak had “no option but to own these results.”
In Swindon, where Labour took council control for the first time in 20 years, ousted Tory leader David Renard slammed the government, blaming “the cost of living and the performance of the government in the last 12 months” for the crushing Tory losses.
