Rishi reacts to ‘disappointing’ election results for Tories

Rishi Sunak has described the unfolding local election results as ‘disappointing’.

The Conservatives suffered huge losses in what has been the Prime Minister’s first electoral test since being handed the keys to No 10.

Mr Sunak told Sky News: ‘It’s always disappointing to lose hard-working Conservative councillors, they’re friends, they’re colleagues and I’m so grateful to them for everything they’ve done.

‘In terms of the results, it’s still early, we’ve just had a quarter of the results in, but what I am going to carry on doing is delivering on the people’s priorities – halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats.

‘That’s what people want us to do, that’s what I’m going to keep hard at doing.’

Mr Sunak maintained that ‘progress’ is still being made for his party.

Around 8,000 seats across 230 councils were up for grabs in the elections, and poll booths closed at 10pm last night.

Already, the Conservatives have lost control in councils in Tamworth, Brentford and North West Leicestershire.

Labour have also become the largest party in Hartlepool and Worcester.

Rishi Sunak insisted his party is still ‘making progress’ (Picture: PA)

Sarah-Jane Colclough of Labour wins the seat of Bentilee, Ubberley and Townsend during the Stoke On Trent Election Count (Picture: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Keir Starmer’s party also seized control of Plymouth – a result branded ‘terrible’ by Government minister and local MP Johnny Mercer.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the party had experienced a ‘bit of a blip’ following the turmoil in No 10 which saw Boris Johnson and Liz Truss ousted before Mr Sunak took office.

He attempted to present the expected losses as mid-term blues for the Tories, telling Sky News: ‘The British people are a very sensible group of folk and they understand what’s important.

‘Occasionally they like to give political parties a bit of a reminder of who the politicians serve. Certainly when you get into being mid-term in a government you get quite a bit of that.’

The local elections were the first of its kind to be carried out under new rules which required voters to carry photographic ID.

Critics say could discourage young people and disenfranchise minority voters, both of which are likely to be Labour voters.

There are around 2 million people without photographic ID, and of those around 86,000 have applied for the new certificate, research by The Big Issue has found.

Many have had their applications rejected, FOI research found.

Issues with photographs, not being registered to vote in the first place, or not submitting their national insurance numbers were the most common reasons for rejection.

Last night, the elections watchdog said ‘regrettably’ some people were turned away from polling stations as a result.

As is British tradition, several dogs popped along to polling stations yesterday and, while they were not able to vote, they did pose for several cute photos.

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The Prime Minister said it was ‘still early’ in the voting result process.