Local Conservative leaders urge Boris Johnson to reconsider his position following significant election defeats.
Conservative leaders in local councils are increasingly urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to consider stepping down after the party suffered significant losses in local elections, which many attributed to the fallout from the Partygate scandal and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Labour made substantial gains, taking control of several prominent Tory councils in London, including Wandsworth, Westminster, and Barnet, marking significant milestones in their political history. Johnson’s party also lost ground across the south of England to the Liberal Democrats, who became the largest party in several areas, including West Oxfordshire and Portsmouth.
By the morning of May 6, the Conservatives had lost 122 seats in England, approximately one-sixth of those contested, with the overall loss potentially surpassing 250. Local Tory leaders, such as John Mallinson of Carlisle city council, highlighted that issues like Partygate and the financial strain on citizens overshadowed local campaigning efforts. Mallinson criticized government ministers, including Environment Secretary George Eustice, for making dismissive remarks about the struggles of ordinary people, further straining support for the Conservatives.
