Badenoch admits local elections will be ‘very difficult’ for Conservatives

The Tory leader told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that July’s general election was a “historic defeat” for the party.

Voters in 23 local authorities across England will go to the polls on May 1 to choose their new councillors, with mayors also up for election across six regions.

It will be the first big electoral test for the parties since last summer’s general election, and more than half of the council seats up for grabs are currently held by the Conservatives.

“These elections are going to be very difficult for the Conservatives,” Mrs Badenoch told the programme.

“Two-thirds of the seats four years ago we won – there’s no way we are going to be able to do that again.”

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is standing more candidates next month than the Conservatives and Labour, and is contesting 99.4% of the available seats.

The party has consistently polled higher than the Tories in recent months.

Mrs Badenoch told the BBC that “protest parties are doing well at the moment”.

She added: “It’s really important that we take time to get things right – rebuild trust with the public and have a credible offer.

“I’m not saying everything we did was correct – that’s why we’ve seen support for other parties...
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