The recent local elections in England dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, prompting Britain's Labour Party to call for a general election. Labour's victory included winning councils it hadn't held for decades, securing regional mayorships, and triumphing in a special election for the Blackpool South seat in parliament.
Labour leader Keir Starmer emphasized the message sent to the Prime Minister, saying, "Here in Blackpool, a message has been sent directly to the prime minister," and adding, "This was directly to Rishi Sunak to say we are fed up with your decline, your chaos and your division and we want change."
Despite these losses, Sunak remains defiant, stating, "Come a general election, [voters] are going to stick with us too," after the re-election of Conservative Ben Houchen as mayor of the northern region of Tees Valley.
The Conservative Party acknowledged the challenges they faced, with Chairman Richard Holden describing it as "a tough night." National polls indicate a significant lead for Labour over the Conservatives in terms of general election choices.
Results are still being tallied, including the key mayoral contest in London where Labour's Sadiq Khan seeks re-election. The centrist Liberal Democrats and the Green Party also made gains, along with Reform UK, aiming to attract voters from the right.
Despite speculation, there are no immediate moves within the Conservative Party to replace Sunak, which would be unlikely before an election campaign. Sunak had previously mentioned a potential vote in the "second half of 2024."
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