Local elections live: Rishi Sunak says disastrous results for Tories have ‘redoubled my resolve’

A terrible set of results for Sunak was compounded by the Conservatives losing the West Midlands mayoralty.

James Cheng-Morris

·Freelance news writer, Yahoo UK

Updated Sun, 5 May 2024 at 8:32 am BST

Rishi Sunak has insisted sticking to his plan will deliver for the Tories after his party suffered mayoral elections losses in England’s two biggest cities.

A poll upset in the West Midlands saw Labour’s Richard Parker seize victory from outgoing Conservative mayor Andy Street by a mere 1,508 votes.

The West Midlands contest, which the Tories were on course to win, was seen as a potential lifeline in an otherwise disastrous set of local election results for Sunak in a general election year.

The prime minister had hoped a brace of wins – alongside Lord Ben Houchen’s victory in the Tees Valley mayoralty – could be enough to stave off rebellious Tory backbenchers.

Meanwhile, Labour stormed to victory in the London mayoral poll, with Sadiq Khan securing a historic third term in office with a majority of 275,000 over Conservative rival Susan Hall.

Results are also in from 106 of the 107 councils in England that held elections on Thursday – and they show Labour has won 1,140 seats, an increase of more than 200. The Liberal Democrats beat the Tories into second place, winning 521 seats, up nearly 100. The Tories are on 513 seats, down nearly 400.

On Saturday, Sunak acknowledged the “disappointing” results but, in an apparent message to rebel backbenchers, added they have “redoubled my resolve to continue to make progress on our plan”.