TORY LOSSES
Speculation is rife in the UK parliament at Westminster that a bad showing may lead some restive Tory lawmakers to try to replace Sunak, who has been in charge since October 2022.
Finance minister Jeremy Hunt played down expectations and said the government expected to see “significant losses”.
But he told Sky News television: “That often happens in local elections”.
Wins for the incumbent Tory mayors in the West Midlands and Tees Valley, Andy Street and Ben Houchen, would boost their hopes that the beleaguered leader can still revive their fortunes.
But with the Tories under fire nationally, on issues from water pollution to transport and inflation, Street and Houchen have appeared to distance themselves from the party during the campaign.
In line with other by-elections in recent years, Labour is expected to seize the Blackpool South parliamentary seat from the Tories after their MP resigned over a lobbying scandal.
Pollsters forecast that the Conservatives could lose about half of the nearly 1,000 council seats they are defending in cities, towns and districts across England.
Voters will also elect police and crime commissioners in Wales and well as England. They control forces’ budgets, set their priorities and have the power to hire and fire chief constables.
Again, political analysts say the Tories may lose up to half of their 29 commissioners, with 37 in total up for grabs.
