Labour’s performance in the local elections is a blessing for the Conservatives. A less impressive showing in the polls for the Opposition a year out from the general election, with key target councils failing to go red and what John Curtice has described as a ‘failure to do well enough’ means the story is not just about the government getting a pounding. Number 10 sources are arguing that ‘Labour are actually going backwards’.
Some MPs long known to be vocal critics of Ed Miliband are taking to the airwaves to criticise him. Graham Stringer has attacked the Labour leader’s ‘unprofessional’ team. Simon Danczuk has just told LBC that ‘I’m not going to pretend that Ed Miliband as an issue doesn’t come up on the doorstep, of course it does’. It will become more dangerous if more senior figures or previously loyal backbenchers break cover.
Other Labour MPs are unimpressed with the way the party machine dealt with the Ukip threat.
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