Local elections were bleak for the Tories – but all is not lost for Rishi Sunak
Last ditch Rishi
DESPITE understandable attempts to spin the results, last week’s elections were — if not totally catastrophic — bleak indeed for the Tories.
Holding on to Harlow council in Essex while failing in London and losing Birmingham is not anyone’s idea of ballot box success.
But there are three themes that have emerged which do offer Rishi Sunak a way back.
Firstly, no one is queuing up to give Sir Keir Starmer a landslide.
Labour has clearly not yet proved it has sufficiently changed or that Starmer can be entirely trusted.
He needs both to seal the deal with the electorate.
Secondly, a significant chunk of Britain seems heartily sick of the incessant infighting which has blighted the Tories since the fall of Boris Johnson.
Thirdly, there is a rising and bitter resentment in the country that neither Tories or Labour have the answers to our post-pandemic problems.
This is proven by incredibly low turnouts, protest votes for the hopeless Lib Dems and minor success for the Green Party who fielded a candidate who stood on the single issue of Gaza and chanted Allahu Akbar to celebrate his victory.
Tellingly, tens of thousands of Tory supporters apparently stayed at home.
For all that he has been given a bloody nose, Rishi Sunak has at least achieved one thing.
He might not have silenced critics from within his own party.
But at least the disorganised rabble of leadership plotters has slunk off to the pub.
That now gives him the chance to make every precious remaining moment of his Premiership count.
Without being distracted by ludicrous leadership speculation, he can focus on delivering.
That means putting more money in people’s pockets and quitting the ECHR if it stops flights to Rwanda.
Polling experts reckon Labour may only have a seven-point lead over the Tories and are not yet on course for a majority, let alone a landslide.
The PM can only hope they are right and bet on holding on to the end before calling an election.
He’s got a crucial six months ahead to win those Tory voters back.
End of loo-nacy
THE vast majority of people never wanted gender-neutral toilets in their public spaces.
They were foisted on us by a woke ideology determined to ignore the rights of women, especially.
Credit to Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch for throwing out this nonsense.
It will be a blessed relief all round.