The recent local elections in England marked a significant loss for the Conservative party, who faced their first electoral test under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Labour claimed that the election

results suggest they will win the next general election, while the Liberal Democrats also made gains. Across the country, the Tories lost control of several councils, including Medway in Kent, which Labour will now run for the first time since 1998.

Plymouth and Stoke-on-Trent were also taken by Labour, both of which are considered general election battlegrounds. Over 8,000 councillors were up for election, with the Conservatives losing control of nine councils and Labour gaining three, the Liberal Democrats gaining one, independents gaining one, and four councils under no overall control.

The Conservatives lost 190 seats, while Labour gained 138, the Lib Dems gained 59, and the Greens gained 13. Photo by secretlondon123, Wikimedia commons.