Tory chairman urges MPs to ‘wait through weekend’ amid local election drubbing
The Conservative Party chairman has appealed to restive Tory MPs to “wait through the weekend” after a bruising first set of local election results, insisting Rishi Sunak is “the right man” to lead the party.
Richard Holden admitted it had been a “tough night”, but insisted the party’s drubbing on Friday was “typical for a Government in midterm” amid rumblings of unease among the parliamentary back benches.
Elections experts have warned the Conservatives could be on course to lose 500 seats in what could be their worst showing in 40 years.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer hailed a “seismic win” for Labour in the Blackpool South by-election, where the party secured a 26.33% swing, as well as council gains in key areas like Hartlepool and Redditch.
The is braced for further pain as more results trickle in over the weekend which could increase pressure on his leadership of the Conservative Party and the country.
