There were endless predictions before Thursday’s twin byelections, all with their own potential political messages. But as it turns out, Rishi Sunak wakes up on his trip to the Middle East facing the simplest, and for him, worst of them all: a double Labour victory.
Governments often get a pounding from voters and the Conservatives had heavily managed expectations in advance, briefing in particular that they fully expected to lose their near-20,000 majority in Tamworth.
