‘Like the Somme without the generals’: Tory nerves grow as local elections loom

Contest being treated as a general election bellwether and some MPs fear ‘complete annihilation’ will spark further Conservative rebellion

The local elections on 2 May have long been regarded as a moment of high peril for Rishi Sunak, with the results likely to anticipate his party’s fate at the next election.

“My colleagues are feeling very restless,” admits one moderate Tory MP. “Rishi needs to show us that the general election isn’t already lost. If we lose the mayoralties in May then I’m afraid we could be on course for a total wipeout. It could be very dangerous for him.”