‘Tough night’ for party in local vote
BORIS Johnson has admitted the Tories endured a “tough night” after suffering a string of losses in council elections but insisted he would not be deflected from his economic agenda.
The Prime Minister said that he took full responsibility for the results as Labour strengthened its grip on London and the Liberal Democrats also made gains at the Conservatives’ expense.
However, he faced a growing backlash from local Tories who blamed continuing public anger over lockdown parties in Downing Street for the losses.
One Conservative MP publicly warned it may require a change of leadership if the Government was to rebuild voters’ trust.
Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, hailed a “turning point” for Labour as they took the totemic Tory authority in Wandsworth, won Westminster for the first time since its creation in 1964 and clinched victory in Barnet.
Speaking during a visit to a school in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, Mr Johnson said it had been a “mixed set of results” for the Tories.
“It is mid-term,” he said, adding that the “message from voters” was that they wanted
the Government to focus on getting the country through the economic aftermath of Covid.
“This Government is absolutely determined to keep going with every ounce of compassion and ingenuity that we have, get people through the economic aftershocks,” he said.
However David Simmonds, the Tory MP for neighbouring Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, said the issue of lockdown rulebreaking in Downing Street had kept coming up on the doorstep.
Mr Johnson could face a leadership challenge if 53 Tory MPS – 15% of the parliamentary party – write to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, calling for vote of no confidence.
Among grassroots Tories there was anger and frustration that local councillors were paying the price for what they said were the failures of the national leadership.
John Mallinson, leader of Carlisle City Council, hit out after Labour took control of the new Cumberland authority which will replace it.
He told the BBC: “I think it is not just partygate, there is the integrity issue.”
Ravi Govindia, leader of the Wandsworth Tories, said: “Let’s not be coy about it, of course national issues were part of the dilemma people were facing.”
A jubilant Sir Keir proclaimed clear evidence of a Labour revival following its crushing defeat in the 2019 general election.
“This is a big turning point for us,” he told cheering supporters in Barnet. “We’ve sent a message to the Prime Minister: Britain deserves better.”
The Liberal Democrats were also in buoyant mood after taking dozens of seats.
After full results from 87 councils, the Tories had lost control of nine authorities; Labour had gained five and the Lib Dems one, with 27 more Green councillors.