Sir Keir Starmer is celebrating wins in key battlegrounds in the local elections as an indication Labour is on course to win the next general election, but Rishi Sunak remains defiant despite heavy losses.The prime minister is under pressure as the results being declared showed both Labour and the Lib Dems seizing control of Tory councils across England.The Labour leader said the “fantastic” results combined with a hoped-for recovery in Scotland would give him a majority in Westminster after a national poll.With nearly half of authorities having declared, the Conservatives had lost 23 local authorities and more than 360 councillors.Sir Keir’s party was projected to have won a nine-point lead over the Conservatives if all of Britain had gone to the polls.Mr Sunak conceded the results were “disappointing” but said he was “not detecting any massive groundswell of movement towards the Labour Party or excitement for its agenda”.The elections watchdog said “regrettably” some people were turned away from polling stations as a result of new rules requiring voters to carry photographic ID. Panalo
Sir Keir Starmer is celebrating wins in key battlegrounds in the local elections as an indication Labour is on course to win the next general election, but Rishi Sunak remains defiant despite heavy losses.The prime minister is under pressure as the results being declared showed both Labour and the Lib Dems seizing control of Tory councils across England.The Labour leader said the “fantastic” results combined with a hoped-for recovery in Scotland would give him a majority in Westminster after a national poll.With nearly half of authorities having declared, the Conservatives had lost 23 local authorities and more than 360 councillors.Sir Keir’s party was projected to have won a nine-point lead over the Conservatives if all of Britain had gone to the polls.Mr Sunak conceded the results were “disappointing” but said he was “not detecting any massive groundswell of movement towards the Labour Party or excitement for its agenda”.The elections watchdog said “regrettably” some people were turned away from polling stations as a result of new rules requiring voters to carry photographic ID. Free