Conservatives Face Tough Night in Local Elections Across England and Wales

The local elections in England took place on May 2, with over 2,000 seats contested across 107 councils. The outcome is seen as a crucial test for the governing Conservative party's popularity ahead of a potential general election. Analysts expect significant losses for the Conservatives, but the question remains whether these losses will exceed or fall short of expectations. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hopes to point to successes in key mayoral races, while Labour Party leader Keir Starmer aims to confirm opinion polls' two-year trend showing Labour's strong national position.