‘Even hanging on to one would be a win’: Tories brace for byelection results

Selby, North Yorkshire. A swing to Labour in Selby and Ainsty could indicate the outcome of the general election, Tory insiders have said. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The Conservatives are braced for painful byelection results in a vote on Thursday that could become a damning verdict on Rishi Sunak’s ability to win a broad enough coalition of voters at the next election to retain his party’s majority.

The party could lose all three of the constituencies that are up for grabs – which each have significantly different demographics that the Tories would need to win – with the prospect of hanging on to just one being touted by senior ministers as a victory.