By-election shows Labour ‘out of touch’

Theresa May has said Labour’s “devastating” defeat to the Conservatives’ in the Copeland by-election shows Jeremy Corbyn’s party is “out of touch with the concerns of ordinary working people”.

After travelling to Cumbria to hail triumphant Tory candidate Trudy Harrison’s “astounding” victory, the prime minister issued a rallying cry to the Conservative Councillors’ Association conference in Lincolnshire.

She said May’s local elections in England, Scotland and Wales are “absolutely vital” as Labour under Mr Corbyn pose a “danger” to local services.

Mrs May said the Copeland result showed the Conservatives are the party “listening and responding” to working people across Britain.