Top Conservatives have come forward in support of Boris Johnson as projections warned of a loss of “hundreds” of seats for the Tories.
Education minister Michelle Donelan told Sky News Mr Johnson was “an asset, not a liability” amid the local elections.
Earlier, in an article for The Independent, polling expert Sir John Curtice warned that the Conservatives were on course to suffer major losses in the first big test of public opinion since the Partygate scandal hit headlines.
Meanwhile, the leader of one grassroots Tory group said that anger about the lockdown-busting No 10 parties, as well as fears over rising living costs, could see the party’s supporters refusing to vote.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner had claimed Tory election candidates were trying to distance themselves from the government by running as “local Conservatives” and pleading with voters not to “punish” them for the Partygate scandal.
“It speaks volumes that Boris Johnson’s own Conservative candidates are ashamed to be associated with him and trying to pull the wool over voters’ eyes,” she said.
