The Tories haven’t reached the end of the road, yet

Everyone knew that the Conservatives were going to take a pasting in the local elections. Aside from deserving a particular kicking for the horror show of 2022, with its runaway inflation and two prime ministerial defenestrations, this is just what happens to long-serving governments deep into parliaments.

So the question foremost in the minds of Conservative MPs – who naturally will be regretful about losing hundreds of conscientious councillors – is whether the English public have sent a message that they have already decided to get behind Keir Starmer and Labour at the next general election. In other words, is it over?

There is no such message discernible from the first wave of results. Labour took control in two of its target councils – the Red Wall citadel of Stoke-on-Trent and Plymouth. But in Stoke, the gains made by Starmer’s party were predominantly against independent candidates with the Tories holding their number of councillors at 14.