London loves Corbyn but Tories will win nationally

THE Tories are set to do better than expected in May’s local elections because Jeremy Corbyn has failed to cut through outside the M25, given that the Conservatives have been running the country for eight years.

The Conservatives are expected to have their worst performance in London in history, falling from 612 seats to fewer than the 519 the party won in 1994. However, the party’s performance nationally will not be as bad, according to respected local government experts.

More than 4,300 council seats are up for grabs in the local elections in England on May 3.

Lord Hayward, a leading expert on council elections and a Conservative peer, said: “I expect the Tories to lose seats and the Libdems to gain seats but I don’t expect them to lose to such an extent that it would endanger Theresa May’s prime ministership.”

Labour had not responded to a request for comment at the time of going to press.