The Tories suffered major losses in Rishi Sunak’s first electoral test as Prime Minister, with Labour claiming the results suggest Sir Keir Starmer will be able to replace him in No 10.
The Liberal Democrats also made gains as the Tories lost control of a series of councils across England.
Labour gained control of Plymouth, where the Tories had run a minority administration – a result branded “terrible” by Government minister and local MP Johnny Mercer – then did the same in Stoke-on-Trent, another general election battleground.
