Blackpool verdict looks like electoral death sentence for Tories

Rishi Sunak may face a daunting toll of council seat losses that nevertheless understates his problems. Photograph: Tejas Sandhu/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock

It was a grim night for the Conservatives and the pain seems likely to extend over the weekend, even if there may be moments of consolation from some mayoral elections.

The Blackpool South byelection was not a routine midterm setback for the party of government. For a start, it comes well into the fifth year of the parliament and is therefore late-term.