Tories: polls will be 'very difficult'

KEMI Badenoch has admitted that May's local elections are “going to be very difficult” for the Conservatives.

- Kemi Badenoch

The Tory leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that July's general election was a “historic defeat” for the party.

Voters in 23 local authorities across England will go to the polls on May 1 to choose their new councillors, with mayors also up for election across six regions.

It will be the first big electoral test for the parties since last summer's general election, and more than half of the council seats up for grabs are currently held by the Conservatives.

“These elections are going to be very difficult for the Conservatives,” Mrs Badenoch told the programme.