Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is on edge as the results of key mayoral elections in London and the West Midlands are being tallied. The Conservative Party faced a significant setback in the initial round of local election results, losing a net of 371 seats and control of 10 councils.
Despite these losses, Prime Minister Boris Johnson found solace in the victory of Ben Houchen in the Tees Valley mayoral election. Houchen, who retained his position, faced speculation about distancing himself from the Conservative party during his campaign.
The focus now shifts to the mayoral contests in London and the West Midlands, with results expected to be announced on Saturday. In London, incumbent Sadiq Khan is facing a closer-than-expected challenge from Tory candidate Susan Hall, while a tight race is also anticipated for West Midlands Tory mayor Andy Street.
The outcome of several other mayoral, council, and police and crime commissioner elections will also be revealed over the weekend. These results could potentially impact Tory rebels who are considering ousting Sunak before the general election if the Conservatives suffer significant losses.
As the election counts continue, the political landscape in the UK is evolving, with both the Conservative and Labour parties closely monitoring the results for insights into voter sentiment and potential implications for future elections. Stay tuned for more updates as the weekend progresses.