Prof John Curtice, the polling expert, has said that, according to the early results, Labour are not making the sort of “dramatic” gains the party did under Tony Blair before its landslide 1997 general election victory. They are doing more or less the same as they did in last year’s elections, Curtice said, while noting that early local election results “don’t look as though they’re going to provide that much solace to 10 Downing Street”. “It is not looking very good for the
Conservatives, I think one has to say,”
he told BBC Politics.
The Conservative party has not got much to be positive about this morning, but it is reminding journalists this morning that Labour failed to take control of Harlow council in Essex, even though it was a Labour target. (See
5.32am.) Keir Starmer told Sky News Labour needed to win “in places like Harlow”, the Tories say. “Whilst this is tough night for the Conservative party, it’s clear there is absolutely no love for Keir Starmer,” a Tory source said.
The Tories went into the local elections with 21 of the seats on the council, and
Labour holding the other 12. All seats were up for election. The Tories now have 17 seats, and Labour 16.
Starmer and Angela Rayner visited the town on Wednesday.
Chris Webb wins back ‘red wall’ seat held by Tories since 2019; Labour take control of Hartlepool, Thurrock and Rushmoor
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