Rishi Sunak insists Tories have 'everything to fight for' as hopes rise that ... trends now
Defiant Rishi Sunak insisted Tories have 'everything to fight for' today as hopes rise that West Mids mayor Andy Street can hold on despite local elections carnage.
Putting a brave face on grim results, the PM admitted that voters are 'frustrated' but argued that Keir Starmer has not sealed the deal.
Mr Sunak is willing Mr Street to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a third term this afternoon, with the outcome thought to be on a knife edge.
Lord Houchen's success has seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a fresh coup bid from rebels, most of whom who have now conceded the leader will not change before the general election.
Putting a brave face on grim election results, Rishi Sunak admitted that voters are 'frustrated' but argued that Keir Starmer has not sealed the deal
Mr Sunak is willing Andy Street (pictured) to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a third term this afternoon, with the outcome thought to be on a knife edge
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However, the broader picture for the Conservatives was relentlessly grim, with the party likely to end up losing 500 councillors in one of the worst showings for 40 years.
The Blackpool South by-election caused particular consternation as Labour stormed the seat with a 26 point swing - and the Tories only barely scraped into second ahead of Reform.
It was not all plain sailing for Sir Keir though, with experts warning that a slump in support in areas with large Muslim populations suggested he was 'in trouble'.
Mr Sunak insisted he can still turn the situation around, saying people are 'frustrated and wondering why they should vote'.
'The fact Labour is not winning in places that they admit themselves they need for a majority, shows that Keir Starmer's lack of plan and vision is hurting them,' he said.
'We Conservatives have everything to fight for – and we will because we are fighting for our values and our country's future.'
Mr Sunak pointed to his party's recent commitment to hike defence spending and cut migration as clear dividing lines with Labour.
But polling guru Prof John Curtice said the results demonstrated Mr Sunak has 'very little to show' for his efforts to restore the Tories' fortunes after Liz Truss's abrtive premiership.
The election expert told the BBC: 'There is nothing in these results to suggest contrary to the opinion polls that the Conservatives are actually beginning to narrow the gap on Labour, and that so far at least, Rishi Sunak's project which has tried to recover from the disaster – from the Conservatives' point of view – of the Liz Truss fiscal event, that project has still got very little to
