Politics

May vows to ‘deliver Brexit’ despite humiliating election loss –‘Something truly historic'


In a poll bloodbath driven by a backlash against the Westminster EU departure deadlock, the Conservatives lost more than 1,000 council seats and control of 35 local authorities across England. 

It was their worst performance since more than 2,000 councillors were lost in local elections under John Major’s leadership in 1995.

In a speech to members of the North East Lincolnshire Conservative group, the Prime Minister said: “Yes, we had challenging results, but Labour were predicting that they were going to gain seats.

“In fact, they made net losses of seats.

“But I think a message has been given to both main parties from the public – I think people are saying to us, ‘We’re sending a strong message, just get on and sort Brexit out and do it’.

“I welcome the fact that Jeremy Corbyn has said today that he sees the time is now to get a deal and to deliver on Brexit – it’s what I’ve been saying for some time.”

Mr Corbyn paid for his dithering over Brexit with Labour losing more than 100 councillors instead of making widespread electoral gains predicted by party chiefs.

Independent candidates, the Lib Dems and the Greens were the biggest winners from an outburst of protest against the main establishment parties.

Analysis of the results showed Labour and the Tories would get just 28 per cent of the vote each if the same share of support was repeated in a general election.

Furious Tory MPs last night urged the Prime Minister to quit after the devastating backlash against the party.

But Mrs May insisted the poll had sent Westminster a message to bring the months of Brexit stalemate to an end.

Speaking earlier in the day at the Welsh Tory conference in Llangollen, she said: “This is a difficult time for our party and these election results are a symptom of that.

“We have the privilege of governing our country at a momentous time and we have a responsibility of delivering something truly historic.”

Government insiders believe the thrashing for both Labour and the Tories will “sharpen minds” of ministers and opposition frontbenchers ahead of fresh cross-party Brexit talks next week.

In a sign that the voter frustration shown in the polls was intensifying pressure on the two sides to come to a Brexit deal, the Prime Minister is understood to have dropped plans to pull the plug on the talks if no deal is reached by next Wednesday.

Senior ministers led by Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington are due to meet Labour frontbenchers for more talks on Tuesday.

But anger among Eurosceptic Tory MPs opposed to the Government’s attempt to thrash out a Brexit compromise with Mr Corbyn grew following the local election drubbing.

Former Cabinet minister Priti Patel led calls for the Prime Minister to quit, saying: “I’ve been very clear any of my constituents have said this to me we need a change of leadership, perhaps the time has now come for that.”

However, Conservative chiefs took some consolation in Labour’s losses on the night.

The Tories did manage to keep control of Swindon, seen as a key indicator of national political swing between the main parties, that had been seen as a possible Labour gain.

Last night after all 248 councils had declared their results, Labour – despite hopes of gaining from the Tory losses – had 63 less councillors and had a net loss of six councils.

The Liberal Dems picked up 676 councillors and won control of 10 councils.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “We’ve had a very difficult evening.”

He added that a key factor was “the anger of voters at both the main parties at the failure to deliver Brexit on time”. 



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