Sunak under pressure as Tories suffer heavy losses in London and West Midlands

Rishi Sunak Faces Conservative Unrest After Crushing Defeats in Mayoral Contests

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, found himself in hot water over the weekend as the Conservative party suffered significant losses in mayoral contests across the country. The defeats, including in London and the West Midlands, have sparked renewed unrest among Tory MPs.

The party had high hopes for Andy Street, the incumbent mayor of the West Midlands, but he was narrowly defeated by Labour’s candidate Richard Parker. In London, Sadiq Khan secured a third term as mayor, easily defeating his Tory rival Susan Hall.

The results have left Sunak facing backlash from within his own party, with some MPs expressing dismay and anger over the losses. The defeat in the West Midlands, by just 1,508 votes, was particularly devastating for the Conservatives.

The outcome of these contests is likely to have a significant impact on the political landscape, with some suggesting that it could reshape the narrative leading up to the general election. Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party also secured victories in other key mayoral races, further adding to the Conservatives’ woes.

Despite efforts to reassure Tory MPs ahead of the contests, the losses have left many questioning Sunak’s leadership. Some have even suggested that a mutiny against the Chancellor could be on the horizon.

As the dust settles on a tumultuous weekend for the Conservatives, all eyes will be on how Sunak navigates the fallout from these defeats and whether he can regain the confidence of his party.