Inevitably, given Ukip has made strong gains overnight, some Conservative MPs have been renewing their calls for a Tory-Ukip pact. Conservative ministers have been quick to brush this off, with Grant Shapps arguing:
‘We’re not going to have a pact or joint candidates, or whatever. It can’t happen on a technical basis because we do not allow joint candidates to stand… It’s not going to happen because we’re the Conservative party; we are the best chance to offer an in/out referendum, the only chance.’
Michael Gove was also asked about this on Good Morning Britain, and he said:
‘Absolutely not. I don’t think we should have a pact.’
The Tories had been quite bullish about the local results in their briefings in the run-up to these polls. But they, like all the main parties, have so far seen their share of the vote drop.
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